title: Gender disparities in quality of life and psychological disturbance in patients with implantable cardioverter-defibrillators.
abstract: 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.
  
  
  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.
authors: Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Kyushu University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors: Anita
authors: A
authors: Rahmawati
authors: Akiko
authors: A
authors: Chishaki
authors: Hiroyuki
authors: H
authors: Sawatari
authors: Miyuki
authors: M
authors: Tsuchihashi-Makaya
authors: Yuko
authors: Y
authors: Ohtsuka
authors: Mori
authors: M
authors: Nakai
authors: Mami
authors: M
authors: Miyazono
authors: Nobuko
authors: N
authors: Hashiguchi
authors: Harumizu
authors: H
authors: Sakurada
authors: Masao
authors: M
authors: Takemoto
authors: Yasushi
authors: Y
authors: Mukai
authors: Shujiro
authors: S
authors: Inoue
authors: Kenji
authors: K
authors: Sunagawa
authors: Hiroaki
authors: H
authors: Chishaki
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001007:Anxiety / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D017147:Defibrillators, Implantable; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D004554:Electric Countershock / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010146:Pain / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D010147:Pain Measurement; D015995:Prevalence; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011788:Quality of Life; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome