Individualised quality of life after pacing. Does mode matter?

To examine the hypothesis that atrial based pacing improves Quality of Life (QoL) after pacing by undertaking a detailed QoL evaluation that includes an individualised assessment as well as disease specific evaluation. Prospective study of patients randomised to VVI(R) or atrial based pacing modes using the Schedule for the Evaluation of Individual QoL (SEIQoL), the 36-item Medical Outcomes Study Short-Form General Health Survey (SF36), and a modified version of the Karolinska Cardiovascular Symptomatology Questionnaire (KCSQ). Seventy-three patients completed the two-year follow up of the study. Pacing improved SEIQoL scores, cardiovascular symptoms and the physical role limitation, social limitation and mental health domains of SF36 from baseline to one month. Pacing mode had no effect on QoL the major determinants of which were baseline QoL and a history of coronary artery disease. Atrial based pacing does not improve QoL in the two years after pacing when compared with VVI(R) pacing.