Health-promoting lifestyle profile after atrial fibrillation ablation

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a prevalent cardiac arrhythmia associated with increased thromboembolic risk, independent of symptom status. While management traditionally involves rate or rhythm control, catheter ablation has evolved from a secondary option for drug-refractory cases to a primary intervention, particularly in younger patients with paroxysmal AF and minimal structural heart disease. Adopting a Health-Promoting Lifestyle Profile (HPLP-II) post AF ablation is key to improve long-term outcomes.

The aim of the present pilot study was to determine the level of healthy lifestyle behaviors 3 months post AF ablation so as to develop best practices for high-quality data collection.

The studied sample consisted of 41 patients who underwent atrial fibrillation ablation and data collection took place during the period of 01 September until 30 September of 2025. Descriptive analysis and independent sample t-test was performed to determine the HPLP-II score in 3-months telephone follow up.

The mean age of the participants was 64.9±8.8. Of the total participants, 70.7% (n=29) were male. The mean total score on the HPLP-II was 137, indicating a generally positive "good" level of health-promoting lifestyle. Statistical analysis revealed no significant gender differences across the total HPLP-II scores or any of its six subscales: health responsibility, physical activity, nutrition, spiritual growth, interpersonal relations, and stress management. Although the mean score for females (138) was slightly higher than that for males (136), this difference did not reach statistical significance (p = 0.724).

While the present pilot study provides valuable information into health promoting behaviors, several limitations must be acknowledged such as: gender imbalance in the sample and small sample size.