Table 11.
Scale | Definition/Details | Strengths/Weaknesses |
---|---|---|
Short Form (36) Health Survey (SF36)38 (General) |
|
|
EuroQol Five Dimensions Questionnaire (EQ-5D)39 (General) | Two components: Health state description is measured in five dimensions: mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort, anxiety/depression. Answers may be provided on a three-level (3L) or five-level (5L) scale. In the Evaluation section, respondents evaluate their overall health status using a visual analogue scale (EQ-VAS). Results can easily be converted to quality-adjusted life years for cost utility analysis. |
|
AF effect on Quality of Life Survey (AFEQT)40 (AF specific) | 20 questions: 4 targeting AF-related symptoms, 8 evaluating daily function, and 6 assessing AF treatment concerns. Each item scored on a 7-point Likert scale. |
|
Quality of Life Questionnaire for Patients with AF (AF-QoL)41 (AF specific) | 18-item self-administered questionnaire with three domains: psychological, physical, and sexual activity. Each item scores on a 5-point Likert scale. |
|
Arrhythmia-Related Symptom Checklist (SCL)42 (AF specific) | 16 items covering AF symptom frequency and symptom severity. |
|
Mayo AF Specific Symptom Inventory (MAFSI)43 (AF specific) |
|
|
University of Toronto Atrial Fibrillation Severity Scale (AFSS) (AF specific)44 | 10 items covering frequency, duration, and severity. 7-point Likert scale responses. |
|
Arrhythmia Specific Questionnaire in Tachycardia and Arrhythmia (ASTA)45 (AF specific) | Records number of AF episodes and average episode duration during last 3 months. 8 symptoms and 2 disabling symptoms are recorded with scores from 1–4 for each. |
|
European Heart Rhythm Association (EHRA)46 (AF specific) | Like NYHA scale. I = no symptoms, II = mild symptoms not affecting daily activity, III = severe symptoms affecting daily activity, and IV = disabling symptoms terminating daily activities. |
|
Canadian Cardiovascular Society Severity of Atrial Fibrillation Scale (CCS-SAF)47 (AF specific) | Like NYHA scale. O = asymptomatic, I = AF symptoms have minimal effect on patient's QOL, II = AF symptoms have minor effect on patient QOL, III = symptoms have moderate effect on patient QOL, IV= AF symptoms have severe effect on patient QOL. |
|
AF, atrial fibrillation; QOL, quality of life; CABANA, Catheter Ablation vs Anti-arrhythmic Drug Therapy for Atrial Fibrillation; SARA, Study of Ablation Versus antiaRrhythmic Drugs in Persistent Atrial Fibrillation; CTAF, Canadian Trial of Atrial Fibrillation; MANTRA-PAF, Medical ANtiarrhythmic Treatment or Radiofrequency Ablation in Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation; NYHA, New York Heart Association; AFSS, atrial fibrillation severity scale.