OBJECTIVE: To conduct a comprehensive analysis of the therapeutic efficacy of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), focusing on the effect on cardiac function and quality of life. METHODS: Ninety-eight AF patients treated at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University were included in this study. Of these, 45 patients were assigned to the control group, which only underwent mitral valve replacement surgery, while 53 patients in the observation group that underwent RFA in addition to mitral valve replacement. Comparative analyses were performed between the two groups in terms of left atrial (LA) structure, LA function, segmental LA function, negative emotions, postoperative complications, treatment satisfaction, quality of life, sleep quality, and insomnia rate. RESULTS: After treatment, the observation group showed significantly greater improvement in the left-right diameter, conduit volume, and LA total emptying fraction (LATEF) compared to the control group. Additionally, the observation group exhibited significantly lower strain (S) values in the middle and basal segments of the posterior wall, as well as in the average strain values for each segment. The S change rate, systolic peak strain rate (SRs), early diastolic peak strain rate (SRe), and late diastolic peak strain rate (SRa) in the middle and basal segments of the posterior wall in the observation group were markedly lower than the average values across all segments (all P<
0.05). Furthermore, negative emotions were significantly alleviated and quality of life was markedly enhanced in the observation group compared to the control group (P<
0.05). There was no significant difference in the incidence of postoperative complications between the two groups (P>
0.05). The insomnia rate of the observation group was markedly lower compared with the control group, and the overall patient satisfaction was significantly higher (P<
0.05). CONCLUSIONS: RFA significantly improves the left atrial function and reduces compensatory mechanisms in AF patients. It also contributes to the alleviation of negative emotions and enhances quality of life, with a favorable safety profile.