Effects of ventricular rate regularization pacing on quality of life and symptoms in patients with atrial fibrillation (Atrial fibrillation symptoms mediated by pacing to mean rates [AF SYMPTOMS Study])

• Published in: The American journal of cardiology Vol. 94; no. 7; pp. 938 - 941
• Main Authors: Tse, Hung-Fat, Newman, David, Ellenbogen, Kenneth A., Buhr, Trina, Markowitz, Toby, Lau, Chu-Pak
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 01.10.2004; Elsevier; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Algorithms; Atrial Fibrillation - physiopathology; Atrial Fibrillation - therapy; Biological and medical sciences; Cardiac arrhythmia; Cardiac dysrhythmias; Cardiac Pacing, Artificial; Cardiology; Cardiology. Vascular system; Clinical outcomes; Cross-Over Studies; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Heart; Heart Conduction System - physiopathology; Heart Conduction System - surgery; Heart Rate - physiology; Heart Ventricles - physiopathology; Heart Ventricles - surgery; Humans; Male; Medical procedures; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Pacemaker, Artificial; Prospective Studies; Quality of Life; Severity of Illness Index; Sickness Impact Profile; Single-Blind Method; Statistics as Topic; Treatment Outcome; Walking - physiology; Human; Instrumental stimulation; Symptomatology; Arrhythmia; Heart disease; Atrial fibrillation; Rate; Instrumentation therapy; Cardiovascular disease; Excitability disorder; Quality of life
• ISSN: 0002-9149; 1879-1913
• DOI: 10.1016/j.amjcard.2004.06.034

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of the Ventricular Response Pacing (VRP) algorithm, which regularizes ventricular rate during atrial fibrillation (AF), on symptoms, quality of life, and functional capacity. VRP regularizes the ventricular rate during AF without increasing the mean ventricular rate, thereby reducing the severity of AF-related symptoms in patients with persistent AF. However, VRP did not improve general quality of life (Medical Outcomes Study 36-item Short-Form General Health Survey), the performance of routine activities (Duke Activity Status Index), or functional capacity (hall walk) in patients with AF.