Quality of Life in the Antiarrhythmics Versus Implantable Defibrillators Trial

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Abstract
Background— Implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) use reduces mortality in patients with serious ventricular arrhythmias compared with antiarrhythmic drug (AAD) use. However, the relative impact of these therapies on self-perceived quality of life (QoL) is unknown. Methods and Results— Three self-administered instruments were used to measure generic and disease-specific QoL in Antiarrhythmics Versus Implantable Defibrillators trial participants. Generalized linear models were used to assess the relationships between self-perceived QoL and treatment (AAD versus ICD) and adverse symptoms and ICD shocks. To minimize the impact of missing data, only patients surviving 1 year were included in the primary analyses. Baseline characteristics among QoL participants (n=905) and nonparticipants (n=111) were similar, but participants who survived 1 year (n=800) were healthier at baseline than nonsurvivors (n=105). Of the 800 patients in the primary analysis, characteristics of those randomized to AAD (n=384) v...