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Quality of life similar for lenient and strict rate control

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Heart Rhythm Society 31st Annual Scientific Sessions

DENVER — The method of rate control in patients with permanent AF made no difference on the quality of life, results from a substudy of the RACE II trial indicated.

Results from the RACE II study suggested noninferiority in either group of patients with permanent AF assigned to either lenient (n=230) or strict (n=207) rate control in terms of morbidity and mortality. Researchers for the RACE II substudy assessed patient quality of life using the Short Form-36 (SF-36) health survey questionnaire, the AF severity scale, the Minnesota Living with Heart Failure (MLHF) questionnaire and the Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory-20 (MFI-20). Participant responses were taken at baseline, one year and at study conclusion. Median follow-up time in the RACE II trial was three years.

The results of the MLHF questionnaire (P=.1 vs. P=.3) and the AF severity scale (P=.3 vs. P=0.9) did not differ between the lenient and strict rate control groups from baseline to study completion. The MFI-20 subscale for mental fatigue was higher in the lenient rate control group at baseline, which did not change by study’s end.

Physical functioning as assessed by SF-36 was higher at baseline in the lenient control group, and decreased in both the lenient (70 to 64; P=.01) and strict control (65 to 62; P=.04) groups by study completion. A history of HF and age >75 were associated with decreases in quality of life rather than the assigned therapies, according to the researchers.

“The RACE II study shows that quality of life is comparable between lenient and strict rate control,” Hessel F. Groenveld, MD, of the University Medical Center Groningen in The Netherlands, said in his presentation. “Changes in quality of life are influenced by age, symptoms, gender and underlying heart disease rather than treatment strategy.” – by Eric Raible

For more information:

• Groenveld H. LBCT II. Presented at: Heart Rhythm Society 31st Annual Scientific Sessions; May 12-15, 2010; Denver.

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