Quality of life, care needs and priorities in atrial fibrillation: the impact of number and patterns of comorbidities
Year: 2026
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: PURPOSE: Atrial fibrillation (AF) often coexists with multiple chronic conditions, worsening health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and increasing the burden on patients and caregivers. While multimorbidity is known to worsen clinical outcomes, the role of distinct comorbidity patterns in shaping patients' experience remains unclear. This cross-sectional study assessed whether the number and patterns of comorbidities differentially affect HRQoL, care needs, and priorities of AF patients and caregivers. METHODS: An online survey on living with AF and multimorbidity was disseminated between May 2022 and January 2023 in the UK, Italy, Spain, Romania, and Denmark. The analysis included 633 AF patients (46.9% females, median age 73 years) and 198 caregivers (26.8% females, median age 57 years). Exposure variables were the number and patterns (derived through latent class analysis) of comorbidities. Outcomes included HRQoL (measured with the EQ-5D-3L), perceived management problems and health priorities assessed through a structured questionnaire developed ad hoc for the survey. RESULTS: Three patterns emerged: unspecific (65.5%), diabetes-kidney-liver (18.2%), and complex (16.4%). More comorbidities and belonging to the complex pattern were associated with worse HRQoL, mainly due to limited mobility, dependency, and pain. Main issues were managing multiple diseases, medi ions, and appointments. The diabetes-kidney-liver group prioritized improving quality of life (OR=3.08, 95%CI:1.68-6.00) and living longer (OR=1.67, 95%CI:1.05-2.64), while pain relief was a distinct priority in the complex pattern (OR=2.32, 95%CI:1.38-3.86). CONCLUSION: Both number and combinations of AF comorbidities shape patients' and caregivers' experiences. Considering comorbidity profiles can help define targeted care plans and caregiver support initiatives.
Source: Quality of Life Research
Authors: Caterina Trevisan, Adele Ravelli, José Miguel Rivera-Caravaca, Bruno Micael Zanforlini, Giuseppe Sergi, Gheorghe-Andrei Dan, Anca Rodica Dan, Vanessa Roldán, Francisco Marín Ortuño, Søren Paaske Johnsen, Mirko Petrovic, Davide Liborio Vetrano, Donato Giuseppe Leo, Deirdre A. Lane, Riccardo Proietti, Pia Cordsen, Gregory Lip, Deirdre Lane, Martin O’Flaherty, Carrol Gamble, Iain Buchan, Christodoulos Kypridemos, Brendan Collins, Donato Leo, Delphine De Smedt, Stefanie De Buyser, Cheima Amrouch, Amaia Calderón-Larrañaga, Lu Dai, Stefania Maggi, Marianna Noale, Elisabeta Badila, Nicola Ferri, Alessandra Buja, Vincenzo Stefano Rebba, Tatjana Potpara, Laura Vivani, Silvia Anastasia, Alessandro Ferri, Gehad Shehata, Nadia Rosso, Marco Cicerone, Jacek Marczyk, Trudie Lobban, Georg Ruppe, Federica Censi, Roberto Da Cas, Cecilia Damiano, Benedetta Marcozzi, Guendalina Graffigna, Caterina Bosio, Lorenzo Palamenghi, Serena Barello, Aldo Pietro Maggioni, Andrea Lorimer, Donata Lucci, Dipak Kalra, Nathan Lea, John Ainsworth, Charlotte Stockton-Powdrell, Alam Sanaullah, Francisco Marín Ortuño, Mariya Tokmakova
Institutions: University of Padua, Stockholm University, University of Ferrara, Karolinska Institutet, Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biosanitaria, Universidad de Murcia, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Academia Oamenilor de Știință din România, Spitalul Clinic Colentina, Hospital Universitario Virgen de la Arrixaca, Centro de Investigación en Red en Enfermedades Cardiovasculares, Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg University, Ghent University, Stockholm Gerontology Research Center Foundation, University of Liverpool, Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital
Language: English
Subfield: Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $3,890
OpenAlex ID: W7147312737