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Impact of COVID-19 on patients awaiting ablation for atrial fibrillation.
Pius, Charlene; Ahmad, Hasan; Snowdon, Richard; Ashrafi, Reza; Waktare, Johan Ep; Borbas, Zoltan; Luther, Vishal; Mahida, Saagar; Modi, Simon; Hall, Mark; Gupta, Dhiraj; Todd, Derick.
  • Pius C; Cardiology, Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool, UK charlene.pius@lhch.nhs.uk.
  • Ahmad H; Cardiology, Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool, UK.
  • Snowdon R; Cardiology, Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool, UK.
  • Ashrafi R; Adult Congenital Heart Disease, Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool, UK.
  • Waktare JE; Cardiology, Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool, UK.
  • Borbas Z; Cardiology, Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool, UK.
  • Luther V; Cardiology, Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool, UK.
  • Mahida S; Cardiology, Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool, UK.
  • Modi S; Cardiology, Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool, UK.
  • Hall M; Cardiology, Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool, UK.
  • Gupta D; Cardiology, Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool, UK.
  • Todd D; Cardiology, Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool, UK.
Open Heart ; 9(1)2022 06.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1891894
ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE:

Atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation services were significantly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. We aimed to evaluate a symptom-based clinician prioritisation scheme for waiting list management compared with patient-completed quality of life (QoL) scores. We also sought to understand factors influencing QoL, particularly the impact of COVID-19, on patients awaiting AF ablation, via a bespoke questionnaire.

METHODS:

Patients awaiting AF ablation were sent two QoL questionnaires (Atrial Fibrillation Effect on QualiTy of Life (AFEQT) and EuroQol 5D (EQ5D-5L)) and the bespoke questionnaire. At a separate time point, patients were categorised as C1-urgent, C2-priority or C3-routine by their cardiologist based on review of clinic letters.

RESULTS:

There were 118 patients included with priority categorisation available for 86 patients. Median AFEQT scores were lower in C2 (30.4; 17.2-51.9) vs C3 patients (56.5; 32.1-74.1; p<0.01). Unplanned admission occurred in 3 patients in C3 with AFEQT scores of <40. Although 65 patients had AF symptoms during the pandemic, 43.1% did not seek help where they ordinarily would have. An exercise frequency of ≥3-4 times a week was associated with higher AFEQT (56.5; 41.2-74.1; p<0.001) and EQ5D (0.84; 0.74-0.88; p<0.0001) scores.

CONCLUSION:

The QoL of patients awaiting AF ablation is impaired and AFEQT helps to identify patients at risk of admission, over and above physician assessment. COVID-19 influenced patients seeking medical attention with symptomatic AF when they normally would. Regular exercise is associated with better QoL in patients awaiting AF ablation.
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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Atrial Fibrillation / Catheter Ablation / COVID-19 Type of study: Diagnostic study / Experimental Studies / Observational study / Prognostic study Topics: Long Covid Limits: Humans Language: English Year: 2022 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: Openhrt-2022-001969

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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Atrial Fibrillation / Catheter Ablation / COVID-19 Type of study: Diagnostic study / Experimental Studies / Observational study / Prognostic study Topics: Long Covid Limits: Humans Language: English Year: 2022 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: Openhrt-2022-001969