Symptom severity and quality of life in patients with atrial fibrillation: Psychological function outweighs clinical predictors

Abstract

Background: The key drivers of symptom severity and health-related quality of life (hr-QOL) in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) remain unclear. We aimed to determine the relative contribution to symptom severity and hr-QOL of clinical factors including left ventricular (LV) diastolic function and ventricular rate control during AF and of psychological functioning. Methods: Seventy-eight consecutive patients with symptomatic AF and preserved LV systolic function underwent detailed evaluation of i) AF symptom severity and hr-QOL; ii) clinical factors including left ventricular (LV) diastolic function, AF burden, and ventricular rate during AF and iii) state and trait aspects of psycholog..