Based on the 9 questions related to symptoms and the 13 questions related to health-related quality of life, the following scale scores are calculated.
Note! All questions in ASTA apply “in connection with arrhythmia”.
ASTA symptom score
Each of the 9 questions about symptoms is given a value as follows:
- 3 Points Yes, a lot
- 2 Points Yes, quite a lot
- 1 Point Yes to a certain extent
- 0 Points No
The maximum symptom score will then be 27, which is then recalculated to a scale from 0 to 100
i.e. (Total points/27)*100 = “ASTA symptom score”
High scores = more intense symptoms.
ASTA HRQoL score
Each of the 13 questions concerning the impact on daily life is also given a value as follows::
- 3 Points Yes, a lot
- 2 Points Yes, quite a lot
- 1 Point Yes to a certain extent
- 0 Points No
The maximum HRQoL score will then be 39 , which is then recalculated to a scale from 0 to 100
i.e. (Total points/39)*100 = “ASTA HRQoL score”.
High scores = greater impact on daily life.
ASTA HRQoL-score physically
Seven of the 13 questions about the impact on daily life relate more specifically to physical function,
points are also given values as above:
ASTA HRQoL score mentally
Six of the 13 questions about the impact on daily life relate more specifically to mental function,
points are also given values as above:
Example
| Women | Men | p-value | |
| Symptom score 9 questions | 43.8 | 37.2 | <0.001 |
| HRQoL total score 13 questions | 43.7 | 37.7 | <0.001 |
| physical score 7 questions | 48.8 | 42.8 | <0.001 |
| mentally score 6 questions | 37.7 | 31.8 | <0.001 |
An example of how the four scale scores can be presented.
Based on 2493 patients with atrial fibrillation, presented separatly for men and women. As the table shows, there are significant differences between men and women where women rate higher (worse) in all four scales.