Health evaluation in patients with atrial fibrillation long-term after "MAZE" radiofrequency endocardial catheter ablation procedure

The aim of this study was to evaluate the patients’ state of health by EQ-5D questionnaire before the “MAZE” radiofrequency endocardial catheter ablation procedure and long-term after the intervention based on the efficacy of the treatment. A total of 391 patients (247 male) aged 18 to 77 years (mean age 54.9±10.1 years) with atrial fibrillation (AF) were examined. All patients underwent catheter ablation, including pulmonary veins isolation, ablation of lines in the back wall, at roof of the left atrium, and along the mitral isthmus. The state of health was evaluated, according to the efficacy of the interventional treatment and EQ-5D questionnaire data. According to the results of our study, the long-term efficacy was 83.3% in patients with paroxysmal AF and 72.4% in patients with persistent AF. The state of health remained at the initial level in patients with successful ablation, but if the procedure was unsuccessful, the state of health significantly worsened.