Patient perception of symptoms and quality of life following ablation in patients with supraventricular tachycardia.

OBJECTIVES

It remains unclear which symptom experiences and aspects of quality of life (QOL) change after ablation in patients with supraventricular tachycardia (SVT). To determine how patient perceptions of symptoms and QOL change after ablation, we used a single group pretest-posttest design.

METHODS

Patients with SVT (n=52; mean age 41+/-17 years; 65% female) completed generic and disease-specific measures at baseline and 1 month after ablation.

RESULTS

Significant improvement after ablation was noted on virtually all measures (P <.05). Patients reported decreases from baseline regarding frequency and duration of episodes, number of symptoms, and impact of SVT on routine activities. All symptoms decreased in prevalence; however, no symptoms were completely eliminated at 1-month follow-up. Women, more so than men, reported larger changes in symptom and QOL scores after ablation.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite the small sample, statistically significant improvement was found after ablation in a variety of patients with different symptoms and QOL indices.