Radiofrequency Catheter Ablation Reduces the Severity of Anxiety in Patients With Atrioventricular Nodal Reentry Tachycardia, Regardless of Age, Sex, Tachycardia Type, and Laboratory Findings

Abstract

Assess pre and postinterventional anxiety levels in radiofrequency catheter ablation recipients (RFCA) for atrioventricular nodal reentry tachycardia (AVNRT) and investigate whether changes are associated with demographic and clinical characteristics and AVNRT subtypes. This was a single-centre prospective study conducted from September 2019 to March 2020. A total of 51 patients who were to undergo RFCA due to newly diagnosed symptomatic AVNRT were included. Electrophysiological studies were performed on all patients, the AVNRT subtype was determined, and the RFCA procedure was applied. The severity of anxiety before RFCA and 3 months after the procedure was determined by the state-trait anxiety inventory. The mean age was 50.1±17.3 years and 70.6% (n=36) were women. The median STAI-State score after ablation (37 [33–42]) was significantly lower than before (63 [52–72]) (p<0.001). Similarly, median STAI-Trait scores after ablation (45 [39–49]) were found to be significantly lower than before the procedure (59 [46–69]) (p<0.001). There were no significant relationships between the decrease in STAI-State or STAI-Trait scores and analyzed parameters such as age, sex, AVNRT type and other laboratory values. Administration of RFCA in AVNRT can improve AVNRT-induced anxiety and could eliminate the potential need for antiarrhythmic or anxiolytic therapy. Therefore, RFCA may also positively impact quality of life, and reduce unnecessary treatments, and healthcare costs associated with AVNRT.