Effects of ventricular rate regularization pacing on quality of life and symptoms in patients with atrial fibrillation (Atrial fibrillation symptoms mediated by pacing to mean rates [AF SYMPTOMS study])

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of the Ventricular Response Pacing (VRP) algorithm, which regularizes ventricular rate during atrial fibrillation (AF), on symptoms, quality of life, and functional capacity. VRP regularizes the ventricular rate during AF without increasing the mean ventricular rate, thereby reducing the severity of AF-related symptoms in patients with persistent AF. However, VRP did not improve general quality of life (Medical Outcomes Study 36-item Short-Form General Health Survey), the performance of routine activities (Duke Activity Status Index), or functional capacity (hall walk) in patients with AF.