AFFIRMO’s new article "Quality of life, care needs and priorities in atrial fibrillation: the impact of number and patterns of comorbidities" has been published online in Quality of Life Research, as part of the Springer Nature SharedIt initiative. 

This paper is the result of the work of the researchers 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 on behalf of the AFFIRMO consortium. 

The article explores how multiple chronic conditions, and their specific combinations, influence the quality of life of people living with atrial fibrillation (AF), as well as the experiences of their caregivers. Based on survey data from patients and caregivers across several European countries, the study shows that both the number and the specific patterns of coexisting diseases play a key role in shaping health outcomes, daily challenges, and care needs. 

The findings reveal that patients with more complex combinations of conditions experience significantly worse quality of life, particularly in terms of mobility, independence, and pain, while their caregivers also face a greater burden. Moreover, the study highlights common difficulties, such as managing multiple treatments and healthcare appointments, and shows that patients’ priorities differ depending on their health profile.  

Overall, the research emphasizes the need for more personalized approaches to AF care that take into account the full complexity of patients’ health conditions. In addition, it also underlines the importance of targeted initiatives to better support caregivers within the healthcare and social system. 

To read the full article click here.