High Readmission Rates and Mental Distress 1 yr After Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation or Atrial Flutter: A Nationwide Survey
Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review
PURPOSE: Today, catheter ablation is a widely used treatment for atrial fibrillation (AF) and atrial flutter (AFL). Knowledge on long-term patient-reported outcomes and readmissions is lacking and is warranted to plan optimal follow-up care. Objectives were to describe patient-reported outcomes including perceived health, quality of life, anxiety, depression, and physical activity compared with an age- and sex-matched reference population without longstanding disease; readmissions and mortality; and factors associated with suboptimal patient-reported outcomes.
METHODS: A nationwide cross-sectional survey mailed to 627 adults 6 to 12 mo after ablation for AF or AFL including; Short Form-36 (SF-36), HeartQoL, Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale, and questions about physical activity. Readmission rates and mortality were obtained and regression analyses were performed.
RESULTS: Comparing the patient group (response rate: 74%, n = 462) with an age- and sex-matched reference population with no long-lasting disease, differences were found in all subscales of SF-36 and leisure-time physical activity in favor of the reference group (P < .001). Within 1 yr, 411 patients (59%) were readmitted and the total number of readmissions was 1167. Altogether, 227 (33%) patients were electively readmitted and 330 (48%) were acutely readmitted. Ten patients (1.4%) died. Age > 59 yr, female sex, high comorbidity, and readmission were associated with low physical health, low perceived health, and low quality of life.
CONCLUSIONS: Patients treated for AF or AFL experienced decreased mental and physical health and high readmission rates 6 to 12 mo following catheter ablation. Closer multidisciplinary follow-up or cardiac rehabilitation after ablation for AF or AFL may be needed.
Original language | English |
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Journal | Journal of Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation and Prevention |
Volume | 39 |
Issue number | 1 |
Pages (from-to) | 33-38 |
Number of pages | 6 |
ISSN | 1932-7501 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2019 |
- Anxiety/epidemiology, Atrial Fibrillation/complications, Atrial Flutter/complications, Catheter Ablation, Cross-Sectional Studies, Denmark/epidemiology, Depression/epidemiology, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Patient Readmission/trends, Patient Reported Outcome Measures, Population Surveillance, Postoperative Period, Registries, Risk Factors, Survival Rate/trends, Time Factors
Research areas
ID: 237847339