Changes in cardiac output, rhythm regularity, and symptom severity after electrical cardioversion of atrial fibrillation

Abstract

Objectives

Symptoms in atrial fibrillation (AF) range from none to disabling. The physiological correlates of AF symptoms are not well characterized. This study investigated the association between physiological parameters and symptom severity before and after electrical cardioversion (EC) of AF.

Design

We studied 44 patients with persistent AF (age 66.2 ± 7.9 years, 16% females) 4 ± 2 days before and 5 ± 2 days after EC. Physiological parameters included cardiac output (CO; non-invasive inert gas rebreathing), heart rate (HR), RR variability and resting and ambulatory blood pressure (BP). Symptoms and quality of life (QoL) were assessed by the modified European Heart Rhythm Association score (mEHRA), the Atrial Fibrillation Effect on Quality of Life (AFEQT) and the Symptom Checklist for frequency and severity of symptoms (SCL).

Results

28 of 44 patients were still in sinus rhythm (SR) at post EC evaluation. Those in SR had a decreased HR (-15.4 ± 13.1 bpm, p < 0.001), and an increased CO (+0.8 ± 0.7 L/min, p < 0.001) as compared to those with recurrent AF. Changes in CO after EC correlated with symptom improvement as scored by AFEQT (r = 0.36; p < 0.05), AFEQT symptoms subscore (r = 0.46; p < 0.01), SCL for frequency (r = 0.62; p < 0.01) and severity (r = 0.33; p < 0.05) of symptoms, and the mEHRA score (r = 0.50; p < 0.01). A decrease in RR variability showed similar correlations with these measures of symptom improvement.

Conclusions

Improvements in symptoms and quality of life experienced by patients after electrical conversion of atrial fibrillation are correlated with an increase in CO and a decreased RR variability.

Keywords:

• Atrial fibrillation
• electric cardioversion
• cardiac output
• symptoms
• quality of life

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Correction

Correction Statement

This article was originally published with errors, which have now been corrected in the online version. Please see Correction (http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/14017431.2024.2331901)

Disclosure statement

Frieder Braunschweig has received speaker or consultancy fees by Biotronik, Medtronic, Abbott, Boston Scientific, Boehringer, Novartis, Pfizer and Orion.

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported by the Swedish Heart and Lung Foundation.