1. Patient report outcomes in cryoballoon ablation of atrial fibrillation during the COVID Era: Insights from the 1STOP project.
- Author
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Molon G, Arena G, Tondo C, Ricciardi D, Rossi P, Pieragnoli P, Verlato R, Manfrin M, Girardengo G, Campisi G, Pecora D, Luzi M, and Iacopino S
- Subjects
- Humans, Treatment Outcome, Recurrence, Atrial Fibrillation, COVID-19, Cryosurgery adverse effects, Pulmonary Veins surgery, Catheter Ablation adverse effects
- Abstract
Background: Pulmonary vein isolation by cryoablation (PVI-C) is a standard therapy for the treatment of patients with symptomatic atrial fibrillation (AF). AF symptoms are highly subjective; however, they are important outcomes for the patient. The aim is to describe the use and impact of a web-based App to collect AF-related symptoms in a population of patients who underwent PVI-C in seven Italian centers., Methods: A patient App to collect AF-related symptoms and general health status was proposed to all patients who underwent an index PVI-C. Patients were divided into two groups according to the utilization of the App or the non-usage., Results: Out of 865 patients, 353 (41%) subjects composed the App group, and 512 (59%) composed the No-App group. Baseline characteristics were comparable between the two cohorts except for age, sex, type of AF, and body mass index. During a mean follow-up of 7.9±13.8 months, AF recurrence was found in 57/865 (7%) subjects with an annual rate of 7.36% (95% CI:5.67-9.55%) in the No-App versus 10.99% (95% CI:9.67-12.48%) in the App group, p=0.007. In total, 14,458 diaries were sent by the 353 subjects in the App group and 77.1% reported a good health status and no symptoms. In only 518 diaries (3.6%), the patients reported a bad health status, and bad health status was an independent parameter of AF recurrence during follow-up., Conclusions: The use of a web App to record AF-related symptoms was feasible and effective. Additionally, a bad health status reporting in the App was associated with AF recurrence during follow-up., (© 2023. The Author(s).)
- Published
- 2024
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