Key result
Female ICD patients report poorer physical QoL and higher depression and PTSD than men.
Why the study?
ICD-related psychological problems and impaired quality of life have been observed, but gender differences in these outcomes among ICD patients were unclear.
Are there gender differences in quality of life and psychological disturbances among patients with implantable cardioverter-defibrillators?
Cross-Sectional (n=179)
Yes
Are there gender differences in quality of life and psychological disturbances among patients with implantable cardioverter-defibrillators?
Absolute Event Rate: 44.3% vs 48.7%
p-value: p=<0.05
Female patients with ICDs experience significantly worse quality of life, depression, and PTSD compared to male patients, highlighting the need for targeted psychological interventions.
Hypothesis-generating for gender-specific psychological support in ICD patients; prospective studies needed before clinical adoption.
BACKGROUND: Implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) has improved prognosis in fatal arrhythmia and the number of ICD implantations has increased. ICD-related psychological problems and impaired quality of life (QOL), however, have been observed. This study examined whether gender differences exist in QOL and psychological disturbances in ICD patients. METHODS AND RESULTS: Consecutive outpatients (n=179; mean age, 60.5±15.9 years; 81% male) with ICD implantations completed questionnaires consisting of the Short Form-8 (SF-8), Beck Depression Inventory, Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and Worries about ICD. One-way multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) showed women to have impaired QOL on the role physical functioning (F15,157=4.57, P<0.05) and bodily pain (F15,157=5.26, P<0.05) subscales of the SF-8. More women reported depression (F15,157=5.37, P<0.05) and worry about ICD than men (F15,157=6.62, P<0.05). Moreover, women also had higher IES-R scores indicating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) than men (F15,157=5.87, P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Women reported poorer QOL on 2 subscales: role physical functioning and bodily pain. There was a significant relationship between gender and depression, worry about ICD, and PTSD, but not for anxiety. Female patients need more psychological interventions following ICD implantation.
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Rahmawati et al. (2013) conducted a cross-sectional in Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator (ICD) (n=179). Female gender vs. Male gender was evaluated on Physical Component Summary (PCS) score of QOL (p=<0.05). Female patients with implantable cardioverter-defibrillators reported significantly poorer physical quality of life (PCS score 44.3 vs 48.7) and higher levels of depression and PTSD compared to men.
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