Poster Session III: Exercise physiology

Abstract

P400 Patients with recurrent AF episodes treated with beta-blockers: evaluation of exercise tolerance and quality of life. Prospective, 1-year evaluation E Smolis-Bak, R Dabrowski, B Kazimierska, I Kowalik, H Szwed National Institute of Cardiology, Warsaw, Poland Topic: Exercise physiology, testing and training Atrial fibrillation [AF] significantly influences everyday performance of patients, their exercise capacity, quality of life (qol)and psychic condition. The aim of the study was comprehensive evaluation of 1-year beta-blocker therapy in patients with different forms of AF. Material and methods: The study group consist of 93 patients, age 40-83 years. There were 42 pts with paroxysmal AF (PAF)-age 66 8.5, 30 pts with persistent, (PeAF)-age 65.1 10.1 and 20 pts with chronic (CHAF)-64.0 7.0. All the patients were treated with beta-blockers (propranolol, metoprolol, bisoprolol). During first (V 0) and after 1-year (V 1) visits, pts performed 6 minutes walking test (6-MWT), qol was estimated according to Nottingham Health Profile questionnaire (NHP) and risk of depression occurrence was estimated by Beck Depression Inventory scale (BDI). Results: In 6-MWT resting andmaximumheart rate was significantly lower in pts with PAF than in the pts with CHAF.Walking distance was significantly longer in all studied groups after 1-year therapy. Pts with CHAF had the longest distance in 6-MWT, but patients with PAF had the greatest improvement in walking distance. Mild symptoms of depression were diagnosed in pts with PAF, but not with CHAF and were not changed after 1-year in spite of beta-blocker therapy. Studied quality of life parameters were not changed in either group after 1-year followup. Generally AF significantly limited (V0 vs V1) professional activity (33% vs 22%), home activities (30% vs 39%) and sexual activity (30% vs 34%), least of all social life (15% vs 9%) and family life (15% vs 9%). Conclusions: 1-year beta-blocker therapy significantly improves exercise tolerance, but not qol parameters. The depression symptomswere more prevalent in patients with paroxysmal AF, but in all patients with different forms of AF were not changed during 1-year follow-up in spite of using older (propranolol) and modern (bisoprolol) beta-blocking drugs.