The relationship of quality of life and the mechanical function of the left atrium in patients after successful radiofrequency isolation of the pulmonary veins for idiopathic paroxysmal atrial fibrillation

The aim of the study was to estimate the relationship between quality of life (QoL) and left atrial (LA) mechanical function after successful pulmonary vein (PV) isolation. A total of 120 patients after the ablation for atrial fibrillation were enrolled in the study. Patients of group I had the LA mechanical function disorder; group II did not have this disorder. Intraatrial hemodynamics was studied by invasive manometry and echocardiography; QoL was evaluated by using the SF-36 questionnaire at 3, 6, and 12 months. In 3 months, QoL decrease was demonstrated in group I in comparison with group II. In 6 months, QoL in group I improved whereas it did not significantly change in group II. After 12 months, QoL did not differ between groups. A similar trend was observed for the characteristics of the LA mechanical function. Conclusion: The QoL deterioration in patients who underwent successful PV isolation was associated with the disorder of the LA mechanical function due to the massive radiofrequency exposure in the antral area.