Patients with paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT) reported substantial disruptions to daily life, anxiety, and quality of life during the periods between acute episodes, according to longitudinal survey data presented at the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Congress 2026 and announced by Milestone Pharmaceuticals1.
Frequently Asked Questions
What did the PSVT quality-of-life study find?
The study found that PSVT imposes a substantial burden between episodes, with two-thirds of patients adjusting behavior to avoid stress, persistent anxiety averaging 3.1 out of 7, and frustration, stress, and worry each reported by 47% of patients.
Which activities were most affected by PSVT between episodes?
Driving (53%) and travel (43%) were the everyday activities most frequently rated as bothersome or extremely bothersome to avoid, and nearly 40% of patients reduced their activity or exercise routine.
Did medication side effects contribute to patient burden?
Yes, fatigue and weakness from chronic PSVT medications were each rated as bothersome or extremely bothersome by 65% of patients in the study.
The study aimed to address that gap by tracking patient-reported outcomes over nearly a year, capturing how the condition shaped participants' activities, emotions, and quality of life outside a healthcare setting.
“This study’s findings broaden our understanding of the patient experience with PSVT and show that its impact can extend well beyond the acute episode,” said Sean D. Pokorney, MD, MBA, assistant professor of medicine, Duke University Medical Center and the Duke Clinical Research Institute, and study presenter. “The changes patients reported in activities such as driving, travel and exercise, together with persistent anxiety between episodes, illustrate a burden that is not captured by looking at episode frequency or duration alone.”1
PSVT survey design and lifestyle avoidance findings
The prospective, longitudinal, web-based survey study enrolled 247 adults in the United States and United Kingdom with a self-reported PSVT diagnosis and no history of catheter ablation at enrollment.1 Participants completed a baseline survey in February 2019, weekly tracking surveys through December 2019, and a closing survey; during weeks without a PSVT episode, participants completed quality-of-life assessments, including the World Health Organization Quality of Life-Brief Version (WHOQOL-BREF), along with questions on lifestyle changes, avoidance behaviors, emotional symptoms, and anxiety.
The final cohort had a mean age of 52 years, 72% were female, and the population carried a substantial comorbidity burden.2
According to the company, approximately two-thirds of patients adjusted their lifestyle between episodes to avoid stress, and nearly 40% reduced their activity or exercise routine because of PSVT, with 73% reporting daytime activity interruption between episodes.1
Automobile driving (53%) and travel (43%) were the everyday activities for which avoidance was most frequently rated as bothersome or extremely bothersome (score of 6 or 7 on a 7-point scale); in the underlying abstract, 65% of patients reported avoiding stressful situations or taking steps to reduce stress, and 59% and 47% decreased or eliminated caffeine and alcohol intake, respectively.2
Anxiety, Emotional Symptoms, and Quality-of-Life Burden in PSVT
Anxiety persisted between PSVT episodes, with patients reporting an average anxiety level of 3.1 on a 7-point scale; 26% of patients reported feeling extremely anxious at some point during the study, and 16% reported the maximum anxiety score at least once, according to the company.1
The most frequently reported emotional symptoms rated 4 or 5 on a 5-point scale were frustration, stress, and worry, each reported by 47% of patients, according to the abstract.2
Side effects of chronic PSVT medications were also frequently cited as burdensome, with fatigue and weakness each rated as bothersome or extremely bothersome by 65% of patients.1 Sleep (30%) and capacity for work (22%) were the most commonly reported areas of lifestyle dissatisfaction, and the abstract additionally reported 17% of patients dissatisfied or very dissatisfied with daily life overall.2
“Better understanding the impact of PSVT on the patients’ daily lives – including between acute events – is important as we consider the management and treatment options which can more fully address the needs of people living with this condition,” said David Bharucha, MD, PhD, FACC, chief medical officer, Milestone Pharmaceuticals.1
Investigators concluded that attempts by patients to manage PSVT through avoidance behaviors are themselves often a source of dissatisfaction, and recommended physicians assess how bothersome lifestyle changes are for patients while using standardized scales to monitor anxiety and negative emotional states, alongside integration of behavioral therapy and psychological support prior to definitive ablation treatment.2
The study was funded by Milestone Pharmaceuticals, whose etripamil (Cardamyst) nasal spray is FDA-approved for conversion of acute symptomatic PSVT episodes to sinus rhythm in adults.1
References
Milestone Pharmaceuticals Inc. Milestone Pharmaceuticals announces data presented at ESC Congress 2026 on the impact of paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT) on patients’ daily lives and quality of life between episodes. Published August 27, 2026. Accessed August 29, 2026. globenewswire.com
Sehra R, Sears SFS, Wood KAW, Granger BG, Desai ND, Pokorney SP. The impact of PSVT on patients' daily life and QOL in between episodes. Presented at: European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Congress 2026; August 30, 2026; Munich, Germany.
