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PURPOSE Evaluation of the impact of catheter ablation for ventricular extrasystoles (VES) in structurally normal hearts on quality of life (QOL) and symptomatology. METHODS Symptom analysis assessed with a disease-specific questionnaire, EHRA score for AF, and QOL analysis at baseline and 1 year after ablation. RESULTS The study enrolled 39 patients between April 2016 and November 2019. Two patients were excluded from further analysis. At baseline, palpitations were reported in 31/37 (84%); syncope in 12/37 (32%); other cardiac symptoms in 33/37 (89%) of patients. The EHRA score was 3 or 4 in 13 patients (35%). With the modified arrhythmia-specific questionnaire (MASQ) psychological and physical scores were 46 and 39%. The overall perception of health in the SF-36 was 56 ± 16%. Ablation was performed in 35/37 (95%). At regular follow-up, symptoms were reported in 14/37 (38%) patients. ECG suggested a good procedural outcome in 65% with VES burden on Holter

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess lifestyle behaviour as well as risk factor management across Belgian coronary patients who participated in the cross-sectional European Action on Secondary Prevention through Intervention to Reduce Events (EUROASPIRE) surveys. Methods: Analyses are based on a series of coronary patients by combining data from the Belgian participants in the EUROASPIRE III (328 patients; in 2006-2007) and EUROASPIRE IV (343 patients; in 2012-2013) surveys. Four hospitals located in the Ghent area participated in the surveys. Patients included in the analyses were >= 18 years old and had been hospitalised for a coronary event. Information on cardiovascular risk factors, lifestyle behaviour and medical treatment were obtained. Results: Overall, the proportion of smokers was 11% with 40% persistent smokers. Adequate physical activity levels were reported by 17%, 28% of patients were obese, 47% was central obese and known diabetes was prevalent in 21% of patients. Hypertension wasobserved in 46% of patients and 20% had a total cholesterol >= 5 mmol/L. About 80% had participated in a cardiac rehabilitation programme and the majority of patients were treated with blood pressure (92%) or lipid-lowering drugs (92%). Anxiety and depressive symptoms were reported by 30% and 24%, respectively. Differences between EUROASPIRE III and IV were limited. Conclusions: Compared to the overall EUROASPIRE results in Europe, Belgian CHD patients seem to do slightly better. However, tackling obesity, physical inactivity, hypertension and psychosocial distress remains an important challenge in the management of coronary patients.