Arrhythmias & electrophysiology

Health-related quality of life and healthcare costs of symptoms and cardiovascular disease events in patients with atrial fibrillation: a longitudinal analysis of 27 countries from the EURObservational Research Programme on Atrial Fibrillation general long-term registry

EuropacePublished Registry-based longitudinal cohort study

Authors' conclusion

Symptoms and CVD events are associated with a high burden on AF patients and healthcare systems throughout Europe.

Study context

Population
Patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) in the EURObservational Research Programme on AF long-term general registry, 27 European countries250 centres · 27 countries
Exposure
AF patients with vs without symptoms or cardiovascular disease (CVD) events during follow-up
Outcome
HRQOL and annual healthcare costs associated with symptoms and CVD events
Follow-up
2 years
Methodological detailsmulticentre, 250 centres in 27 European countries, fixed effects models
  • Multicentre
  • 250 centres in 27 European countries
  • Fixed effects models

Main finding

As reported in the abstract

Change in HRQOL associated with event during follow-up

Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) decrement

STEMI vs No event
−0.075 (95% CI −0.144 to −0.006)
Angina or non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) vs No event
−0.037 (95% CI −0.071 to −0.003)
New-onset/worsening HF vs No event
−0.064 (95% CI −0.088 to −0.039)
Bleeding events vs No event
−0.031 (95% CI −0.059 to −0.003)
Thromboembolic events vs No event
−0.071 (95% CI −0.115 to −0.027)
Mild symptoms vs No symptoms · sign as printed
0.037 (95% CI −0.048 to −0.026)
Severe/disabling symptoms vs No symptoms
−0.090 (95% CI −0.108 to −0.072)

Observational data: associations, not effects.

Further findings

OutcomeCost increase (CI)
Increase in annual healthcare costs vs AF patients without the event · during follow-upSTEMI vs No event€11 718 (€8497, €14 939)
Increase in annual healthcare costs vs AF patients without the event · during follow-upAngina/NSTEMI vs No event€5823 (€4757, €6889)
Increase in annual healthcare costs vs AF patients without the event · during follow-upNew-onset or worsening HF vs No event€3689 (€3219, €4158)
Increase in annual healthcare costs vs AF patients without the event · during follow-upBleeding events vs No event€3792 (€3315, €4270)
Increase in annual healthcare costs vs AF patients without the event · during follow-upThromboembolic events vs No event€3182 (€2483, €3881)

Increase in annual healthcare costs vs AF patients without the event · during follow-up

Costs primarily driven by inpatient costs

HRQOL and healthcare resource use by EU region or sex

No significant differences between EU regions or by sex

Original publication

Health-related quality of life and healthcare costs of symptoms and cardiovascular disease events in patients with atrial fibrillation: a longitudinal analysis of 27 countries from the EURObservational Research Programme on Atrial Fibrillation general long-term registry. Europace. Published 29 May 2024. doi:10.1093/europace/euae146

Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →

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