PubMed · 9329496
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B Leff. 1997. The PACE program.. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1532-5415.1997.tb03788.x
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OBJECTIVES: This study compared the long-term effects of complete atrioventricular junction (AVJ) ablation with those of AVJ modification in patients with medically refractory atrial fibrillation (AF). BACKGROUND: Comparisons between the long-term effects of AVJ ablation with those of AVJ modification in patients with medically refractory AF have not been systematically studied. METHODS: Sixty patients with medically refractory AF were randomly assigned to receive complete AVJ ablation with permanent pacing or AVJ modification. Subjective perception of quality of life (QOL) was assessed by a semiquantitative questionnaire before and 1 and 6 months after ablation. Cardiac performance was evaluated by echocardiography and radionuclide angiography within 24 h (baseline) and at 1 and 6 months after ablation. RESULTS: Both methods were associated with significant improvement in general QOL and a significant reduction in the frequency of major symptoms and symptoms during attacks. The frequency of hospital admission and emergency room visits and antiarrhythmic drug trials significantly decreased after ablation in both groups. However, patients after complete AVJ ablation had a significantly greater improvement in general QOL and a significantly reduced frequency of major symptoms and symptoms during attacks (including palpitation, dizziness, chest oppression, blurred vision and syncope). Left ventricular (LV) systolic function and the ability to perform activities of daily life significantly improved after ablation in patients with depressed LV function in both groups. All improvements after ablation or modification were maintained over the 6-month follow-up period. CONCLUSIONS: AVJ ablation with permanent pacing, as compared with AVJ modification, had a significantly greater ability to decrease the frequency of attacks and the extent of symptoms of AF, and the patients who received this procedure were more satisfied with their general well-being.
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Limited prospective data exist on how living arrangements are associated with change in functional health. This study evaluated whether elderly women living alone were less likely to experience functional decline when compared with women who lived with others. A total of 619 community-dwelling, white women from Baltimore, Maryland, aged 65-99 years at baseline were questioned annually from 1984 to 1986. Functional health was measured as the sum of limitations in seven physical and seven instrumental activities of daily living (Instrumental ADL). A total of 148 women experienced functional decline over the 2 years, primarily as a deterioration in Instrumental ADL. The association between living arrangement and change in Instrumental ADL depended on the level of physical impairment. Among women without severe impairment, Instrumental ADL deterioration was significantly less for those living alone compared with those living with spouses (odds ratio (OR) = 0.60, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.45-0.92) or nonspouse others (OR = 0.62, 95% CI 0.45-0.96). For women with severe impairment, however, those living alone had a greater decline in Instrumental ADL, especially when compared with those living with nonspouse others (OR = 5.13, 95% CI 1.23-21.28). These results suggest that, unless severely physically impaired, women living independently have less deterioration in functional health when compared with peers in alternate living arrangements.