Atrial Fibrillation ablation Quality of Life (AFab-QoL) Study
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Does a raised body mass index affect quality of life, symptoms & patient experiences after ablation for atrial fibrillation?.
IRAS ID
275780
Contact name
Eila Watson
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Oxford Brookes University
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 1 months, 30 days
Research summary
Background: atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia seen in clinical practice (Camm et al 2010). Previous studies demonstrate that AF may result in high symptom burden and reduced quality of life (Dorian 2000). Rhythm control in the form of catheter ablation has become an established treatment option for AF. Some risk factors are associated with the development and progression of AF, notably, obesity or a raised body mass index (BMI). Emerging evidence suggests that risk factor modification in the management of AF is an important component of the patient pathway.
Aim: To explore quality of life, symptoms and patient experience following catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation and to establish if an elevated BMI influences these outcomes.
Methods: this mixed-methods study will consist of questionnaires (at 3 time points) before ablation and at 3 and 6 months post-procedure (n=86). Patients will be recruited from the ablation waiting list and the questionnaires will take approximately 30 minutes to complete. At 6 months post-ablation, a smaller number of patients (n=20) will be interviewed on their experiences of AF, the ablation and lifestyle factors. Both sets of data will be analysed convergently, in order to obtain quantitative and qualitative results.
Impact of results: This study will inform the researchers of the patient’s experiences, perceptions, symptoms and quality of life following AF ablation. It is anticipated that knowledge will be generated on how an elevated BMI in patients with AF, influences the patient-reported outcomes. The study has the potential to inform a future study on the management of lifestyle factors, including weight loss, prior to AF ablation and the role of risk factor management in patients with AF.REC name
East of England - Cambridge South Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
20/EE/0244
Date of REC Opinion
13 Nov 2020
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion