Supply/Disclosures
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Lurz JA, et al. Late Breaking Scientific Trials: Randomized Scientific Trials. Offered at: Coronary heart Rhythm 2022; April 29-Might 1, 2022; San Francisco (hybrid assembly).
Disclosures:
Lurz studies no related monetary disclosures.
An app-based thoughts and physique intervention considerably decreased atrial fibrillation-related symptom burden through the 3 months after catheter ablation in contrast with ordinary care, based on findings from a randomized managed trial.
Catheter ablation gives an efficient remedy possibility for AF; nevertheless, AF-related signs and recurrences, notably inside the first 3 months after ablation, are frequent, Julia A. Lurz, MD, a cardiac electrophysiologist on the Coronary heart Heart Leipzig at College Leipzig, mentioned throughout a press convention at Coronary heart Rhythm 2022.
“AF, as nicely all know, causes quite a lot of signs, and meaning stress for the patient in addition to restricted high quality of life,” Lurz mentioned. “Now we have catheter ablation as an efficient remedy possibility, but recurrences, notably through the 3 months after ablation, are frequent.”
Mindfulness workout routines and AF signs
For the single-center MENTAL AF examine, Lurz and colleagues analyzed information from 183 sufferers with symptomatic paroxysmal and chronic AF with a appropriate smartphone and web entry who had been scheduled for catheter ablation. Researchers randomly assigned sufferers to three months of psychological coaching (n = 91) utilizing the MINDANCE app, an audio-guided multimodule program, or ordinary care (n = 92). The app included a 6-week rest module that consisted of respiration methods, creativeness and self-talk to induce rest and relieve bodily and psychological discomfort, adopted by a 6-week mindfulness module that included physique acceptance and sensual meditation. The imply age of sufferers was 61 years and 41% had been ladies; 45% had persistent AF.
The first endpoint was per-protocol evaluation of imply month-to-month AF6 abstract scores, a six-item questionnaire assessing AF signs, through the 3-month examine interval. AF6 scores had been reported weekly on-line; measures included respiration difficulties at relaxation, respiration difficulties on exertion, limitations in every day life, feeling of discomfort, tiredness and fear/nervousness resulting from AF.
At 3 months, researchers discovered that sufferers assigned to the psychological coaching app skilled a imply 29% discount in AF-related symptom burden primarily based on AF6 rating; imply 3-month scores had been 8.9 for the intervention group and 12.5 for the standard care group (P = .011).
“In contrast with baseline, each teams confirmed decrease [AF6] scores through the 3 months; nevertheless, the psychological coaching group had considerably decrease AF6 scores throughout months 2 and three, which means that psychological coaching results emerge over time,” Lurz mentioned. The distinction in AF6 scores was not vital at 1 month (P = .13), nevertheless it was at 2 months and three months (P for each = .006), based on the researchers.
High quality of life enhancements
In subgroup evaluation, the advantage of psychological coaching was constant throughout subgroups, Lurz mentioned. Assessing high quality of life measures, Lurz mentioned there was a big enchancment for intervention sufferers in AFEQT rating, an AF-related high quality of life questionnaire. Imply change in world rating from baseline to three months was 22.6 within the psychological coaching group and 15.7 within the ordinary care group (P for intergroup modifications = .026).
“Each teams benefited however the enchancment was considerably extra pronounced within the psychological coaching group,” Lurz mentioned. “App-based psychological coaching was nicely acquired by the sufferers, was possible and was in a position to scale back AF signs through the 3 months after catheter ablation, with constant results throughout subgroups.”
