Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia after extrasystoles, which significantly affects quality of life and increased mortality. Quality of life is a subjective feeling and individual experience. It implies inner peace, joy and satisfaction with life, life without special burden, fear and uncertainty. The most common causes of AF are age, hypertension, coronary heart disease, heart failure, obesity, diseases of mitral valve, diabetes mellitus, hyperthyroidism. Symptoms include palpitations, shortness of breath, headache, fatigue, and chest pain. In maintaining sinus rhythm and reducing symptoms, AF ablation is a more effective method than antiarrhythmic therapy. (1)

A retrospective clinical study was conducted at the Department of Arrhythmias of the University Hospital Centre Rijeka in patients with AF who underwent ablation treatment between 1^st January 2019 and 31^st January 2019. Out of a total of 106 patients undergoing ablation treatment for AF (33 cryoablations and 73 radiofrequency ablations), 88 patients who gave their written consent approached the study. For testing quality of life, was used an AFEQT questionnaire, which is specific and sensitive specific to patients with AF. The goals of the study were to analyze the values of the AFEQT questionnaire before and after the ablation of atrial fibrillation, and to compare the obtained values before and after the ablation performed depending on sex, age, presence of arterial hypertension, the type of ablation and body mass index.

The overall result of the AFEQT questionnaire is statistically significantly better after ablation. Patients under the age of 65 achieved a statistically significantly better overall score on the AFEQT questionnaire. Male subjects report higher levels of quality of life. Subjects with a higher body mass index achieved statistically significantly lower results in the overall AFEQT questionnaire result after ablation was performed. There was no statistically significant difference in quality of life between patients who underwent cryoablation and those who underwent radiofrequency ablation.

Ablation treatment of FA largely helps decreased symptoms and improve quality of life. Comparing the results of this study with literature (1), we can conclude that atrial ablation is a justified method of treatment of AF, which significantly improves patients quality of life.