Quality of life in patients with long-standing persistent atrial fibrillation after surgical ablation and simultaneous coronary artery bypass grafting

Aim. To analyze quality of life (QOL) of patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) in combination with long-standing persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) in the long-term postoperative period, depending on chosen surgical strategy for concomitant pathology.

Material and methods. The analysis of QOL changes in the long-term postoperative period (12 and 24 months) in 116 patients with CAD and concomitant long-term persistent AF who selectively underwent biatrial (BA) or isolated left atrial (LA) ablation with simultaneous on-pump coronary artery bypass grafting. To assess QOL, a non-specific Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Form Health Status Survey (SF-36) questionnaire was used. Patients were questioned in preoperative and long-term postoperative periods (12 and 24 months).

Results. All SF-36 parameters significantly improve after open surgical treatment in the long-term postoperative period (24 months) with both treatment strategies (BA and LA ablation) for AF. In the BA ablation group, 74% of patients did not have arrhythmia after 12 months, and only 38,5% of patients in the LA ablation group belonged to European Heart Rhythm Association (EHRA) score class 1 (p=0,001). After 24 months, a comparison revealed a significant diff erence between the two groups in arrhythmia symptoms (p=0,014), with maintaining the advantage of the BA ablation group. After 12 and 24 months, none of the patients in both compared groups had severe class IV angina.

Conclusion. SF-36 parameters were improved 24 months after surgical treatment of CAD and long-standing persistent AF, regardless of the ablation strategy. Elimination of angina symptoms and long-term maintenance of sinus rhythm can improve the QOL  of patients in the long-term postoperative period.

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