Symptoms, acceptance of illness and health-related quality of life in patients with atrial fibrillation. (1st March 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Jankowska-Polańska, Beata; Kaczan, Aleksandra; Lomper, Katarzyna; Nowakowski, Dariusz; Dudek, Krzysztof
• Is Part Of: European journal of cardiovascular nursing. Volume 17:Number 3(2018)
• Page Start: 262
• Page End: 272
• Publication Date: 2018-03-01
• Subjects: Atrial fibrillation -- acceptance of illness -- health-related quality of life -- arrhythmia symptoms; Cardiovascular system -- Diseases -- Nursing -- Periodicals; Cardiovascular Diseases -- nursing -- Periodicals; Cardiology -- Periodicals; Nursing -- Periodicals; Vascular Diseases -- Periodicals; 610.7369105
• DOI: 10.1177/1474515117733731
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1474-5151

Abstract

Abstract: Introduction: Acceptance of illness plays a key role, allowing the patient to adapt to the disease and its treatment, and to maintain their health-related quality of life (HRQOL) despite chronic conditions. Aim: The aim of the study was to assess the relationship between severity of arrhythmia symptoms, acceptance of illness and HRQOL in patients with atrial fibrillation. Methods: The study included 99 patients (mean age 64.6) treated for atrial fibrillation. Three standardized instruments were used: the World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQoL-BREF) questionnaire, the Arrhythmia-Specific Questionnaire in Tachycardia and Arrhythmia (ASTA) and the Acceptance of Illness Scale (AIS). Results: Patients with high illness acceptance levels obtained better results in all WHOQoL-BREF domains: physical (57.0±8.9 vs . 51.1±12.5 vs . 42.0±6.2; p <0.001), social (62.6±19.8 vs . 52.5±20.0 vs . 45.7±16.0; p =0.019) and environmental (62.9±12.7 vs . 52.7±7.6 vs . 60.7±3.6; p <0.001), and in the ASTA HRQOL scale (10.5±5.4 vs . 16.1±7.6 vs . 20.3±0.5; p <0.001). Multiple-factor analysis showed AIS to be a statistically significant independent determinant of HRQOL in the physical domain of the WHOQoL (β=0.242) and in the overall HRQOL assessment in the ASTA HRQOL scale (β= −0.362). Other statistically significant independent predictors included: the negative impact of female sex on the physical (β= −0.291) and social (β= −0.284) domains of the WHOQOL-BREF, and the positive impact of urban residence on the physical WHOQOL-BREF domain and on symptom intensity in the ASTA symptom scale. Conclusions: Acceptance of illness is an important factor which has been shown to impact on HRQOL in atrial fibrillation. Female sex is a predictor of worse HRQOL, while urban residence improves HRQOL in the physical domain and decreases symptom intensity (ASTA symptom scale).