[Quality of life analysis in patients with an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator].
OBJECTIVE
To describe possible changes in the quality of life (QL) and to identify possible differences associated to sociodemographic and clinical variables after being given an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD).


METHODS
Descriptive cross-sectional study, selecting 241 consecutive patients for a subcutaneous or subpectoral ICD implantation. One-hundred and fifty-seven patients met inclusion criteria. Introduction letter along with the assessment tool was mailed to them. Assessment tool used was the Euroqol-5D (EQ5D), validated and translated for a Spanish population. EQ5D describes health status in 5 domains: mobility (MO), self-care (SC), usual activity (UA), pain/discomfort (PD) and anxiety/depression (AD). It included a visual analogue scale (VAS) where the endpoints are labelled 'Best imaginable health state' and 'Worst imaginable health state'; one before and another after ICD implantation.


RESULTS
Ninety valid assessments were received: 80 males, mean age 61.2+/-13.1 years. Patients with EQ5D problems: MO 25 (27.7%), SC 8 (8.8%), UA 32 (35.5%), PD 22 (24.4%) and AD 29 (32.2%). Patients with ICD discharges had a higher percentage of problems in all EQ5D domains, being significant in PD and AD. Fifty four patients (60%) experienced a significant improvement in QL after ICD implant using the visual analogue scale score (75 points after vs. 50 points before; P<0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
The majority of ICD patients gain QL after implantation, but this gain is more limited in younger patients and those who have received discharges.
Alconero-Camarero
Ana Rosa
AR
Departamento de Enfermería, Universidad de Cantabria, Santander, España. alconear@unican.es
Cobo-Sánchez
José Luis
JL
Muñoz-Cacho
Pedro
P
Sainz-Laso
Rocío
R
Mancebo-Salas
Noelia
N
Casaus-Pérez
María
M
Gutiérrez-Caloca
Nieves
N
Olalla-Antolín
Juan José
JJ
D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D017147:Defibrillators, Implantable; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life