Quality of life in patients with atrial fibrillation.

Quality of life is discussed with focus on the importance of individual patient perspectives. Eight studies including at least one aspect of quality of life in patients with atrial fibrillation are reviewed with three approaches evident in assessing quality of life: patient interview, self-reported symptoms, and multidimensional assessment. What has been learned about quality of life to date has been from generally highly symptomatic patients refractory to traditional pharmacotherapy; no studies describe quality of life in minimally symptomatic patients with atrial fibrillation. Rationale for extending this knowledge is discussed.