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Quality of life in older people with atrial fibrillation

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Abstract

This review summarises the literature on quality of life in patients with atrial fibrillation. Since atrial fibrillation is predominantly a disease of maturity, the majority of studies examining quality of life in this patient population have been conducted in older adults people (aged ≥65 years). Almost all studies have demonstrated poorer quality of life among patients with atrial fibrillation compared to age-matched general populations. Rate-control and rhythm-control strategies in highly symptomatic patients have revealed significant improvements in quality of life following the interventions, presumably as a result of the immediate relief of symptoms. Further, randomised controlled trials of rate- versus rhythm-control strategies have shown that some aspects of quality of life improve significantly following either intervention and that neither rate nor rhythm-control is superior in increasing quality of life. Control of the heart rate, rather than restoring sinus rhythm, appears to be associated with better quality of life in more domains.

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  1. University Department of Medicine, City Hospital, Birmingham, B18 7QH, England, UK

    Deirdre A. Lane & Gregory Y. H. Lip

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  1. Deirdre A. Lane
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  2. Gregory Y. H. Lip
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Correspondence to Gregory Y. H. Lip.

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Lane, D.A., Lip, G.Y.H. Quality of life in older people with atrial fibrillation. J Interv Card Electrophysiol 25, 37–42 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10840-008-9318-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10840-008-9318-y

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