[Improvement of mental health and the quality of life after catheter ablation for paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia].

PURPOSE: The aims of this study were to observe change in subjective symptoms, quality of life (QOL) and mental health condition after catheter ablation (CA) for paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT) and to assess patient evaluation of the treatment.

METHODS

The questionnaire was sent to 103 patients (86 with the Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome and 27 with atriovetricular nodal reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT)), who had received CA from February 1995 to January 1999. The question encompassed the condition of the patient, his or her evaluation of CA treatment, and a self-rating depression scale (SDS) together with social and subjective as well as non-specific physical points. We scored for improvement of QOL and SDS. Finally, from 82 patients who participated complete responses to the questionnaire were received from 59 (72.0%). The patients (50.5 +/- 15.8 years old, WPW syndrome; 41, AVNRT; 18) almost all (98.3%)

RESULTS

gave a positive evaluation of CA. Over half (54.2%) no longer needed hospital consultation for any reason while three-quarters (76.3%) were free of life limitations. The complete cure rate from physicians was 100%. However, subjective symptoms of arrhythmia attack remained in 20.3% of the cases. Social and physical QOL were significantly improved after CA (social: < 0.05, physical: < 0.01) and the SDS score decreased significantly (< 0.05). 1. Self-awareness frequency of tachycardia attack, frequency of going to hospital and life

CONCLUSION

limitations of PSVT patients decreased after CA. 2. QOL (social and physical QOL) and mental health condition significantly improved after CA. 3. Almost all patients (98.3%) gave a positive evaluation of CA. 4. Healthcare professionals should be aware that not only drug therapy, but also CA is effective for improvement of mental health and the QOL of patients with PSVT.