Introduction: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is one of the most common types of heart arrhythmia in clinical practice. (1) It is estimated that around 1% of the Croatian population suffer from AF. The majority of the afflicted are older people, though AF is also often found in younger people through ECG tests. It sometimes afflicts younger people without any specific cause, though it is mostly caused by obesity, alcohol consumption, stress and other stimuli. Patient awareness makes it easier to treat the disease, but it also helps the patient accept their condition and the possibility of treatment. (2) Cardiac nurses are trained to give the patient the necessary information about the symptoms of the disease, potential adverse effects of medication, the need to change their lifestyle, and the effect of risk factors on the manifestation of the disease.

Patients and Methods: The aim of this study is to investigate the awareness of AF, its symptoms and its effects on the quality of life among patients afflicted by the disease. The study also aims to establish a link between the patients’ sex, age, and level of education and their awareness and quality of life. The method of the study is an independently created survey with questions on the patients’ demographic characteristics, awareness of AF, symptoms and the length of treatment. The examinees are patients suffering from AF receiving treatment at the Department of Cardiology at General Hospital “Dr. Josip Benčević” in Slavonski Brod and undergoing regular cardiologic diagnostics tests. 55 people have taken part in the survey.

Results: The average age of the patients is 67 years. Most patients claim to be well-informed on the potential causes of AF and the treatment of the disease, while they are less aware of potential adverse effects of medication and the symptoms of the disease. Women are more prone to symptoms like nausea, insomnia and excessive sweating. The quality of life of younger patients is not disrupted by the disease. Patients with a higher level of education are more aware of the treatment of the disease.

Conclusion: The study shows that most patients have a high quality of life. The majority have a high level of awareness of the disease from the medical aspect. However, further education on the symptoms of AF and the recommended changes in lifestyle among patents is necessary.