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Factors determining utility measured with the EQ-5D in patients with atrial fibrillation

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Abstract

Purpose

Although atrial fibrillation (AF) is associated with increased morbidity and mortality from heart failure, stroke and other thromboembolic complications, there are limited data on its health-related quality of life (HRQoL) effects. The objective was to analyse the factors determining utility in patients with all types of AF, both at baseline and after 1 year from inclusion, based on data from the Euro heart survey.

Methods

HRQoL was measured with the EQ-5D questionnaire. At baseline, 5,050 patients had completed all five dimensions of the EQ-5D and 3,045 had done so after 1 year. We used Powell’s censored least absolute deviations estimator for inference and ordinary least squares regressions for prediction.

Results

Regardless of time point, utility and change in utility were significantly correlated with age, gender, AF type and symptoms. At baseline, utility was also determined by domestic status, regular exercise habits, diabetic disease and comorbidities. At follow-up, additional determinants included underlying heart disease and utility at baseline, and adverse events.

Conclusion

Utility in patients with AF and change over time are influenced by demographic and disease-specific variables. Our results can provide useful information on the effect of AF on QoL and input for economic evaluations.

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Abbreviations

AF:

Atrial fibrillation

AP:

Angina pectoris

CHF:

Congestive heart failure

CI:

Confidence interval

CLAD:

Censored least absolute deviations

HRQoL:

Health-related quality of life

MI:

Myocardial infarction

OLS:

Ordinary least squares

QALY:

Quality-adjusted life year

RAAS blocker:

Renin–angiotensin–aldosteron system blocker

SD:

Standard deviation

SF-36:

Short-Form 36

VAS:

Visual analogue scale

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Acknowledgments

This study was funded by an unrestricted grant from Sanofi-Aventis, Paris, France.

Conflicts of interest

JB and PL have acted as consultants to and received research grants from Sanofi-Aventis. OB is a full-time employee of Sanofi-Aventis.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institute, Solna, Sweden

    Jenny Berg & Peter Lindgren

  2. i3 Innovus, Stockholm, Sweden

    Jenny Berg & Peter Lindgren

  3. Population Health Research Institute, Hamilton, Canada

    Robby Nieuwlaat

  4. Sanofi-Aventis, Paris, France

    Olivier Bouin

  5. Department of Cardiology, University Hospital Maastricht, Maastricht, The Netherlands

    Harry Crijns

Authors
  1. Jenny Berg
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  2. Peter Lindgren
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  3. Robby Nieuwlaat
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  4. Olivier Bouin
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  5. Harry Crijns
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jenny Berg.

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Berg, J., Lindgren, P., Nieuwlaat, R. et al. Factors determining utility measured with the EQ-5D in patients with atrial fibrillation. Qual Life Res 19, 381–390 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-010-9591-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-010-9591-y

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