A-Fib Affects Quality of Life of Patient and Spouse Equally
SAN FRANCISCO — Atrial fibrillation affects the quality of life of both patients and their spouses in equal measure, a survey of 264 patients and 94 spouses suggests.
“When you're educating patients about atrial fibrillation, it's important to educate the spouses as well,” Dr. Bruce A. Koplan said at the annual meeting of the Heart Rhythm Society.
“That means don't leave the spouses sitting out in the waiting room. Encourage patients to bring their spouses in for their clinic visit, especially the first visit, when they're learning about the condition,” said Dr. Koplan of Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston.
Asked to rate the extent of the effect of atrial fibrillation on their own quality of life, 45% of patients and 43% of spouses said it had no effect or a minor effect, 29% of patients and 26% of spouses reported a moderate effect, and 26% of patients and 31% of spouses said there was a significant effect. The differences between groups were not statistically significant.
Ratings also did not differ between patients and spouses when asked about the effects of atrial fibrillation on specific aspects of quality of life, including daily activities, work/professional life, and sex life.
The effects of atrial fibrillation on the quality of daily activities were rated mild by 56% of patients and 54% of spouses, rated as moderate by 30% of patients and 36% of spouses, and rated as significant by 12% of patients and 10% of spouses.
Atrial fibrillation had a mild effect on the quality of work/professional life, according to 72% of patients and 80% of spouses. Another 19% of patients and 14% of spouses reported a moderate effect, and 29% of patients and 26% of spouses reported a significant effect on the quality of work/professional life.
The effects on the quality of sex life were rated as mild by 62% of each group, as moderate by 14% of patients and 13% of spouses, and as significant by 23% of patients and 24% of spouses.
“Atrial fibrillation by itself is almost never a life-threatening condition,” Dr. Koplan noted. “When we treat atrial fibrillation, we're reducing the risk of stroke and we're reducing the fast heart rate, but the other important aspect in management is the effect it has on overall quality of life, not quantity of life.”
Anxiety about atrial fibrillation and lack of understanding of the condition play a role in perception of quality of life. Some patients end up on psychiatric medications to deal with anxiety or depression related to atrial fibrillation. “If you're not addressing the spouse as well, you're not completely dealing with the condition,” Dr. Koplan said.
Dr. Koplan has been a consultant for and received honoraria from Boston Scientific, Medtronic, St. Jude Medical, and St. Jude Inc. Dr. Albert has been a consultant for Guidant Inc. and received research grants from St. Jude Medical.
