More positive patient-reported outcomes in patients newly diagnosed with atrial fibrillation: a comparative longitudinal study

Abstract

Aims To compare patient-reported outcomes (PROs) in patients newly (< six months) diagnosed with atrial fibrillation (AF) with those who have had the diagnosis longer (≥ six months) and to investigate whether or not these outcomes change over a six month’s period. Methods and results In this longitudinal survey study, 129 patients with AF completed the Revised Illness Perception Questionnaire, the Arrhythmia-Specific questionnaire in Tachycardia and Arrhythmia, and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale at baseline and after six months. At baseline, patients newly diagnosed with AF (n=53), compared to patients with a previous diagnosis (n=76), reported AF as more temporary (P = 0.003) and had higher belief in personal- and treatment control (P = 0.004, P = 0.041 respectively). At six months follow-up, patients newly diagnosed reported a lower symptom burden (P = 0.004), better health-related quality of life (HRQoL) (P = 0.015) and higher personal control (P < 0.001) than patients previously diagnosed. Over time, in patients newly diagnosed, symptom burden and anxiety symptom score decreased (P = 0.001, P = 0.014 respectively) and HRQoL improved (P = 0.002). Conclusions Patients newly diagnosed with AF reported more positive PROs both at baseline and at six months follow-up than patients with a previous diagnosis of AF. Therefore, it is important to quickly capture patients newly diagnosed to support their belief in their own abilities. Such support may, alongside medical treatments, help the patients manage the disease, which may lead to reduced symptom burden and better HRQoL over time.