An Evaluation of the Association between Quality of Life and Psychological Issues in Patients with Automated Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator

Introduction: Implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) plays a life-saving role via controlling malignant dysrhythmias. However, it may result in the incidence of psychological tensions in patients’ lives, eventually leading to changes in their quality of life (QoL). To date, this association has remained unclear among Iranian population. Therefore, the present study aimed to determine the association between QoL and psychological issues in patients with ICD.

Methods: Using convenience sampling method, this cross-sectional study was conducted on 96 patients referred to the pacemaker clinic of Shahid Faghihi hospital and Kowsar heart hospital affiliated to Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Iran from September 2016 to January 2017. The data were collected using Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scale (DASS-21) and the Short Form-36 (SF-36) questionnaire, and analyzed in SPSS software version 13 using independent t-test, Pearson’s correlation test, and ANOVA.

Results: The mean (SD) score of patients’ QoL was found to be 1672.02 (43.43). Moreover, the mean (SD) scores of depression, anxiety, and stress were 4.69 (0.46), 5.6 (0.47), and 7.51 (0.05), respectively indicating moderate depression, anxiety, and stress levels among the patients. A significant association was found between the patients’ QoL and depression, anxiety, and stress.

Conclusion: As an association was observed between the patients’ QoL and depression, anxiety, and stress, performing some interventions to reduce the patients’ psychological issues might improve their QoL.