This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Howes, C. J. Articles by Ezekowitz, M. D. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Howes, C. J. Articles by Ezekowitz, M. D. Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

Exercise Tolerance and Quality of Life in Elderly Patients with Chronic Atrial Fibrillation

M. Carrington Reid, MD

Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT; Veterans Administration Connecticut Healthcare System, New Haven, CT

Cynthia Brandt, MD

Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT

Bernice Ruo, MD

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA

Michael W. Yerkey, MD

Bhargavi Prasad, MD

Veterans Administration Connecticut Healthcare System, New Haven, CT

Carol Lin, MS

Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT

Peter Peduzzi, PhD

Michael D. Ezekowitz, MD, PhD

Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT; Veterans Administration Connecticut Healthcare System, New Haven, CT

Background: Atrial fibrillation is the most common arrhythmia affecting the elderly. Although the risk of cardioembolic stroke is well defined, the effects of chronic atrial fibrillation on exercise tolerance and quality of life have been less well quantified.

Methods: We compared a group of 52 elderly patients with chronic atrial fibrillation to a group of 48 control patients in sinus rhythm. Each patient underwent an interview that incorporated the Short Form-36 Health Survey (SF-36) to quantify individual perceptions on quality of life. In addition each person underwent physiologic testing that included a Modified Bruce Protocol exercise tolerance test, 24-hour ambulatory monitor test, and an echocardiogram.

Results: Both groups were elderly, 77 vs 76 years of age (P=0.35).The two groups had similar ejection fractions, 55.4% vs 58.4% (P=0.10). The atrial fibrillation patients demonstrated a higher level of comorbidity based on the Charlson Comorbidity Index, 2.46 vs 1.57 (P=0.03). On formal exercise testing there was no statistical difference in exercise duration between the two groups 9.0 vs 10.1 minutes (P=0.24). Similarly the Physical Summary Score (PCS) and the Mental Summary Score (MCS) of the SF-36 quality of life survey did not demonstrate a statistical difference between the two groups. PCS: 43.0 vs 45.9 (P=0.24); MCS: 52.5 vs 55.7 (P=0.07).

Conclusions: Despite a higher level of comorbidity, elderly, ambulatory patients with chronic atrial fibrillation demonstrate similar exercise tolerance and report similar quality of life to a group of age-matched control patients in sinus rhythm. There is a cohort of patients in chronic atrial fibrillation in whom a strategy of rate control and anticoagulation may be appropriate.

Key Words: atrial fibrillation • chronic atrial fibrillation • elderly • exercise tolerance • quality of life

Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Vol. 6, No. 1, 23-29 (2001)
DOI: 10.1177/107424840100600103


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				G. Thrall, G. Y. H. Lip, D. Carroll, and D. Lane Depression, Anxiety, and Quality of Life in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation Chest, October 1, 2007; 132(4): 1259 - 1264. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				V. E. Hagens, A. V. Ranchor, E. Van Sonderen, H. A. Bosker, O. Kamp, J. G. P. Tijssen, J. H. Kingma, H. J. G. M. Crijns, I. C. Van Gelder, and the RACE Study Group Effect of rate or rhythm control on quality of life in persistent atrial fibrillation: Results from the Rate Control Versus Electrical Cardioversion (RACE) study J. Am. Coll. Cardiol., January 21, 2004; 43(2): 241 - 247. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]