Arrhythmias & electrophysiologyRandomised controlled trial
The effect of integrated lifestyle modification on quality of life and cost-effectiveness in atrial fibrillation ablation: results from the POP-AF RCT
- RCT
Authors' conclusion
Both lifestyle intervention and usual care were associated with marked improvements in AF-specific quality of life following ablation. The lifestyle intervention reduced healthcare costs with minimal impact on health outcomes, supporting structured lifestyle modification as a cost-effective addition to pre-ablation AF care.
Study context
- Population
- Patients undergoing their first catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF) who had at least one modifiable lifestyle-related risk factor74% male, median age 62 years
- Participants
- 145 patients
- Comparison
- lifestyle intervention and usual care
Primary result
As reported in the abstract
AFEQT · 3 months post-ablation
lifestyle intervention
88.9
usual care
80.6
P = 0.026
- both groups demonstrated significant improvement in AFEQT
- P < 0.001
Further findings
AFEQT · 12 months
- this difference diminished due to continued improvement in the control group
Treatment burden questionnaire (TBQ), EQ-5D, and quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) · Throughout the study
- did not differ significantly between groups
Cost-effectiveness (incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER))
- lower costs at the expense of a small reduction in QALYs; ICER
- €16 589 saved per QALY lost
Original publication
The effect of integrated lifestyle modification on quality of life and cost-effectiveness in atrial fibrillation ablation: results from the POP-AF RCT. Eur Heart J Qual Care Clin Outcomes. Published 28 August 2026. doi:10.1093/ehjqcco/qcag135
Summarised from the published abstract; every number is checked against it