Changes in Quality of Life, Depression, General Anxiety, and Heart-Focused Anxiety After Defibrillator Implantation

Figure 1. The CONSORT flow diagram demonstrating the distribution of participants and dropouts. CRT‐D, cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillator, ICD, implantable cardioverter defibrillator.

Figure 2. Heart‐focused anxiety (HFA) and related subscores before and 5, 12, and 24 months after implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD)/cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillator (CRT‐D) implantation in all patients and subgroups. Results of the repeated measures ANOVA with the within‐subject factor time [baseline, 5 month follow‐up (5M), 12 month follow‐up (12M), and 24 month follow‐up (24M)] and Bonferroni‐corrected post hoc comparisons of baseline vs. 5M, 12M, and 24M, respectively. *P < 0.05 for the main effect of time in the repeated measures ANOVA. a P < 0.05 for differences between baseline and 5M according to Bonferroni‐corrected post hoc analyses. b P < 0.05 for differences between baseline and 12M according to Bonferroni‐corrected post hoc analyses. c P < 0.05 for differences between baseline and 24M according to Bonferroni‐corrected post hoc analyses. Data points represent mean scores of the Cardiac Anxiety Questionnaire and subscores (total HFA, HFA‐fear, HFA‐attention, and HFA‐avoidance). The error bars indicate the standard error. ATP, anti‐tachycardia pacing.

Figure 3. General anxiety, depression, and quality of life before and 5, 12, and 24 months after implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD)/cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillator (CRT‐D) implantation in all patients and subgroups. Results of the repeated measures ANOVA with the within‐subject factor time [baseline, 5 month follow‐up (5M), 12 month follow‐up (12M), and 24 month follow‐up (24M)] and Bonferroni‐corrected post hoc comparisons of baseline vs. 5M, 12M, and 24M, respectively. *P < 0.05 for the main effect of time in the repeated measures ANOVA. a P < 0.05 for differences between baseline and 5M according to Bonferroni‐corrected post hoc analyses. b P < 0.05 for differences between baseline and 12M according to Bonferroni‐corrected post hoc analyses. c P < 0.05 for differences between baseline and 24M according to Bonferroni‐corrected post hoc analyses. Data points represent the mean sum scores of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (depression and general anxiety) and of the Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire (quality of life). The error bars indicate the standard error. ATP, anti‐tachycardia pacing.