Age, Sex, and Remote Monitoring Differences in Device Acceptance for Patients With Implanted Cardioverter Defibrillators in Canada

Do gender differences persist in ICD implantation in patients with acute on chronic heart failure?

BACKGROUND

Implantable Cardiac Defibrillators (ICDs) prolong survival in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). Despite strong data suggesting their benefit, there is concern for disparities related to ICD implantation rates.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis of 551 patients admitted to a single tertiary institution from June 2020 to May 2023, who met the guideline criteria for ICD implantation for primary prevention of sudden cardiac death, was carried out.

RESULTS

Our population constituted of 56% African Americans, 20% Caucasians, 1% Asians and 2% Native Americans. Of those patients, 47% (157/337) of males and 33% (71/213) of females underwent ICD implantation before discharge, creating a statistically significant gender difference at p = 0.007. Patients aged 50 or greater (218/509) were more likely to receive an ICD compared to younger patients (10/41) at p = 0.000. Of those offered an ICD, 46% deferred to outpatient, 30% refused, and 8% of patient had history of noncompliance, were medically unstable, or were undecided.

CONCLUSION

Females and younger patients were less likely to have an ICD at discharge. Despite strong recommendations for ICD implantation in eligible patients, most patients did not receive an ICD. This study showcases the limited access to care and highlights potential avenues of improvement.

Validity and Reliability of the Korean Version of the Florida Patient Acceptance Survey

AIM

To validate the Korean version of the Florida Patient Acceptance Survey (K-FPAS) and assess its reliability in evaluating the acceptance of implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) among Korean patients.

DESIGN

A methodological research study was conducted to develop and validate the K-FPAS as a valuable tool for assessing ICD acceptance and its related factors in the Korean patient population.

METHODS

A total of 243 participants, aged 18 years and older, who had received ICDs within the past year and were regularly monitored by cardiac specialists, were included in the study. The K-FPAS was meticulously translated and underwent expert validation, exploratory factor analysis, and confirmatory factor analysis to establish its construct validity. Content validity was confirmed by seven experts, and concurrent validity was examined using the Short Form-36 Health Survey. The reliability of the K-FPAS was assessed for internal consistency.

RESULTS

The K-FPAS demonstrated robust content and construct validity, consisting of 15 items organised into four subdomains: "Return to Life," "Device-Related Distress," "Positive Appraisal," and "Body Image Concerns."

CONCLUSION

The K-FPAS is a valid and reliable instrument for evaluating ICD acceptance among Korean patients. It provides a robust methodological framework for exploring the multidimensional facets of ICD acceptance, particularly highlighting the significance of psychological and emotional well-being. This tool demonstrates considerable potential for advancing nursing research and guiding evidence-based interventions to enhance ICD acceptance and improve the overall quality of life for ICD recipients.

PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION

Patients contributed to this study by providing responses on the study questionnaires, and five hospitals supported the data collection process by providing suitable facilities for interviews and questionnaires. This research aims to benefit patients and improve their well-being through better ICD acceptance assessment and support.

Determining the Relationship Between Sleep Problems, Shock Pain, and Shock Anxiety in Patients With ICD

AIMS

This study aimed to determine the relationship between sleep problems, shock pain, and shock anxiety in patients with implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) and the affecting factors.

METHODS AND RESULTS

The population of this descriptive cross-sectional study consisted of all patients who underwent ICD implantation in university hospital (N = 200), and the sample consisted of patients who met the inclusion criteria of the study (n = 132). Data were obtained using a "General Information Form", the "Florida Shock Anxiety Scale (FSAS)", the "Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS)", the "Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI)", and the "Visual Pain Scale (VPS)". The mean age of the patients was 66.13 years. The VPS was 6.40 ± 3.36; the mean FSAS score was 29.98 ± 8.46; the mean PSQI score was 8.02 ± 3.81; the mean ESS score was 7.59 ± 4.10. PSQI had a statistically significant correlation with the total FSAS score (p < 0.001) and a statistically insignificant correlation with ESS (p > 0.001). Age, sex, marital status, smoking status, cohabitants, previous ICD shocks, the status of lying on ICD, and fear of dislocation of ICD affected the total FSAS score; sex, employment status, history of heart attack, defined sleep disorder, awakening from sleep due to nightmares, and cessation of breathing during sleep affected the total PSQI score; history of previously defined sleep disorder, history of heart attack, use of medication for a sleep disorder, the pain felt when lying on ICD, and pain experienced during ICD shocks affected the total ESS score. The mean shock VPS scores differed between patients who received an ICD shock during sleep and those who were awakened by nightmares.

CONCLUSIONS

It was found that the shock anxiety and shock pain scores of ICD patients were above average, that they had poor sleep quality, and that their sleepiness was at the level of "normal but increased daytime sleepiness".

Device-specific quality of life: results from the ATLAS trial-avoid transvenous leads in appropriate subjects

AIMS

Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) provide important insights into patients' acceptance of their medical devices. Avoid Transvenous Leads in Appropriate Subjects (ATLAS), a randomized, multi-centre, open-label clinical trial, recently reported fewer perioperative complications in subcutaneous implantable cardioverter defibrillator (S-ICD) compared with transvenous ICD (TV-ICD) patients. This study reports PROs, including device-specific and generic quality of life (QOL), from the ATLAS trial.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Device-specific QOL was the primary PRO using the Florida Patient Acceptance Survey (FPAS) at 1 and 6 months' post-implantation. Secondary outcomes included generic QOL using the Medical Outcomes Survey (SF-36) pre-implant and 6 months' post-implantation. The FPAS and SF-36 were analysed using analysis of covariance. Pain measured using a Numeric Rating Scale, at 1 and 6 months, anaesthetic, body mass index, and within/between differences were analysed using descriptive statistics and mixed-effects linear models. Of the 503 patients randomized in ATLAS, 404 had complete FPAS data to be included in this analysis. Participant characteristics were balanced. There were no significant differences between S-ICD and TV-ICD for the FPAS or SF-36, across time points. Mean total FPAS scores increased from 73.73 (16.09) to 77.05 (16.13) and 74.43 (15.35) to 78.25 (15.88) for S-ICD and TV-ICD, respectively (P < 0.001). Patient-reported outcomes suggested that both devices were associated with good QOL.

CONCLUSION

Device-specific and generic QOL were similar between S-ICD and TV-ICD groups up to 6 months' post-implantation, indicating that regardless of device type, both groups reported good device-specific QOL in ATLAS patients. Subcutaneous ICD patients reported higher pain scores at implant, but pain decreased by 6 months. The findings offer evidence that can be included during shared decision-making. The inclusion of patient partners in ATLAS provided an opportunity to measure PROs that were deemed important to patients.

REGISTRATION

ClinialTrials.gov: NCT02881255.

Exploring Diagnostic and Therapeutic Odyssey in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: Insights from In-Depth Semi-Structured Interviews

INTRODUCTION

Establishing a diagnosis is paramount in medical practice as it shapes patients' experiences and guides treatment. Patients grappling with rare diseases face a triple challenge: prolonged diagnostic journeys, limited responses to existing therapies, and the absence of effective monitoring tools. Genetic diagnosis often provides crucial diagnostic and prognostic information, opening up possibilities for genotype-targeted treatments and facilitating counselling and relative testing. The NIHR BioResource - Rare Diseases (NBR) Study and the Cohort Study in Idiopathic and Hereditary Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH Cohort study) aimed to enhance diagnosis and treatment for PAH, successfully identifying the genetic cause in 25% of idiopathic cases. However, the diagnostic and therapeutic odyssey in patients with PAH remains largely unexplored.

METHODS

Stakeholders from the NBR and PAH Cohort studies were recruited using purposive sampling. In-depth interviews and focus groups were recorded, transcribed, anonymised, and analysed thematically using MAXQDA software.

RESULTS

The study involved 53 interviews and focus groups with 63 participants, revealing key themes across five stages of the diagnostic odyssey: initial health concerns and interactions with general practitioners, experiences of misdiagnosis, relief upon receiving the correct diagnosis, and mixed emotions regarding genetic results and the challenges of living with the disease. Following the diagnosis, participants embarked on a therapeutic journey, facing various challenges, including the disease's impact on professional and social lives, the learning curve associated with understanding the disease, shifts in communication dynamics with healthcare providers, therapeutic hurdles, and insurance-related issues. Building on these insights, we identified areas of unmet needs, such as improved collaboration with primary care providers and local hospitals, the provision of psychological support and counselling, and the necessity for ongoing patient education in the ever-evolving realms of research and therapy.

CONCLUSIONS

The study highlights the significant challenges encountered throughout the diagnostic and therapeutic journey in PAH. To enhance patient outcomes, it is crucial to raise awareness of the disease, establish clear diagnostic pathways, and seamlessly integrate genetic diagnostics into clinical practice. Streamlining the diagnostic process can be achieved by utilising existing clinical infrastructure to support research and fostering better communication within the NHS. Moreover, there is an urgent need for more effective therapies alongside less burdensome drug delivery methods.

Predictors of Quality of Life, Anxiety and Acceptance in Patients with Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator

BACKGROUND

An implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) can cause high levels of anxiety and depression, resulting in negative effects on quality of life.

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the quality of life, anxiety, and acceptance of the ICD using standardized measurement instruments and identify predictors of better responses for each of the outcomes studied.

METHOD

This is a prospective cohort study with patients undergoing initial ICD implantation or reoperation to maintain the device. The study outcomes included quality of life, anxiety, and acceptance of the ICD. The change in scores (30 and 180 days) was assessed using the minimal important difference (MID). Univariate analysis and the multivariate logistic regression model were used to identify predictors of better responses, adopting a significance level of 5%.

RESULTS

A total of 147 patients were included between January/2020 to June/2021, with a mean age of 55.3 ± 13.4 years and a predominance of males (72.1%). The MID for quality of life, anxiety, and ICD acceptance were observed in 33 (22.4%), 36 (24.5%) and 43 (29.3%) patients, respectively. Age equal to or greater than 60 years (OR=2.5; 95%CI=1.14-5.53; p=0.022), absence of atrial fibrillation (OR=3.8; 95%CI=1.26-11.63; p=0.017) and female gender (OR=2.2; 95%CI=1.02-4.97; p=0.045) were independent predictors of better responses to quality of life, anxiety and acceptance of the ICD, respectively.

CONCLUSION

The identification of predictors for better quality of life scores, anxiety, and acceptance of the device can support the implementation of specific care for patients with a greater chance of presenting unfavorable results.

Patient-reported quality of life and acceptance of the extravascular implantable cardioverter-defibrillator: Results from pivotal study

INTRODUCTION

The pivotal study of the extravascular implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (EV ICD) recently demonstrated primary efficacy and safety endpoints comparable to previous ICD systems. Patient experience with this novel device has not been reported. The current study examined the standardized patient-reported outcome (PRO) metrics of quality of life (QOL) and patient acceptance of the device.

METHODS

The EV ICD Pivotal Study was a prospective, single-arm, nonrandomized, global, premarket approval trial. Patients completed the 12-Item Short Form Survey (SF-12) QOL surveys at baseline and at 6 months following implant. Additionally, patients completed the Florida Patient Acceptance Survey (FPAS) QOL survey at 6 months.

RESULTS

From baseline to 6 months, patients within the EV ICD Pivotal Study (n = 247) reported statistically significant SF-12 improvements in physical QOL (45.4 ± 9.4 vs. 46.8 ± 9.1 respectively, p = .020) and no changes in mental QOL (49.3 ± 10.4 vs. 50.5 ± 9.7, p = .061). No differences were noted by sex, atrial fibrillation, or the experience of ICD shock. EV ICD patients reported better total FPAS patient acceptance of their ICD than TV-ICD or S-ICD patients using historical norms comparisons (80.4 ± 15.7 vs. 70.2 ± 17.8, p < .0001 for S-ICD and 73.0 ± 17.4, p = .004 for TV-ICD).

CONCLUSION

The initial PROs for EV ICD patients indicated that patients had improvements in physical QOL from baseline to 6-month follow-up and markedly better overall acceptance of their ICD compared to a previous study with S-ICD and TV-ICD data. These initial results suggest that the EV ICD is evaluated positively by patients.

Patient-Reported Outcomes in a Multidisciplinary Electrophysiology-Psychology Ventricular Arrhythmia Clinic

Background Ventricular arrhythmias (VAs) and their treatment have been associated with psychological distress and diminished quality of life (QOL). We administered a battery of patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) to patients seeing an electrophysiologist and psychologist in a multidisciplinary VA clinic for patients referred for consideration of catheter ablation for sustained VAs or implantable cardioverter-defibrillator therapies. Methods and Results In this retrospective study of the initial VA clinic visit, we analyzed PROMs of: anxiety and depression symptoms, visual analog scales for physical health status and quality of life, cardiac anxiety, implantable cardioverter-defibrillator acceptance, and implantable cardioverter-defibrillator shock anxiety. We quantitated baseline PROM score means and performed correlation analysis with clinical makers of cardiac and VA disease severity. We also performed an item-level analysis of each PROM question to quantify most frequent patient concerns. A total of 66 patients (56±15 years; 77% men) were included; 70% had prior implantable cardioverter-defibrillator shock, and 44% with prior VA ablation. Elevated symptoms of anxiety (53%) and depression (20%) were common. Younger patients had greater symptom burden of general health anxiety, cardiac anxiety, and shock anxiety, and lower device acceptance, but indices of VA burden such as number of ICD shocks and time since last ICD shock did not predict anxiety or depression. Item-level review of cardiac-specific PROMs revealed that >40% of patients expressed concern regarding resumption of physical activity, sex and employment. Conclusions Clinicians can expect elevated symptoms of depression, and cardiac and device-related anxiety among patients with VAs. Routine use of PROMs may elicit these symptoms, which were otherwise not predicted by arrhythmia burden.  Review of individual PROM items can facilitate targeting specific patient concerns, which commonly involved physical activity.

Device nurse intervention facilitates the patients' adaptation to cardiac shock devices in the remote monitoring era

BACKGROUND

A substantial number of patients with shock devices (implantable cardioverter defibrillators [ICDs] or ICDs with resynchronization [CRTDs]) experience psychological distress.

OBJECTIVE

We investigated the device nurse telephone intervention's effect on improving the patient's adaptation to shock devices, quality of life (QOL), and anxiety in the remote monitoring era.

METHODS

The patient's adaptation to the device, health-related QOL, and anxiety were investigated by the modified Implanted Devices Adjustment-Japan score (IDAS), Short Form-36, and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) before and 1-year after the device nurse telephone intervention, performed every 3 months. A total of 95 patients (median age 69 years and 25 females) participated. Sixty patients had ICDs and 35 CRTDs. Structural heart disease was observed in 72 patients, and idiopathic ventricular arrhythmias in the others. The mean left ventricular ejection fraction was 46% ± 15%. The median duration since the device implantation was 5.2 years.

RESULTS

The total IDAS score significantly improved from 28.42 ± 7.11 at baseline to 26.77 ± 7.68 (p = 0.0076) at 1 year. Both the state and trait anxiety significantly improved (from 38.9 ± 9.6 to 35.3 ± 9.0 [<0.0001] and 38.8 ± 10.3 to 36.2±9.8 [p = 0.0044], respectively). The prevalence of patients with a state and trait anxiety of more than 40 decreased from 44 (46%) and 38 (40%) patients before the study to 27 (28 %) and 32 (34 %) at 1 year. The SF-36 mental component summary score significantly increased (50.8 ± 8.3 at baseline to 53.1 ± 7.7 at 1 year, p = 0.0031).

CONCLUSIONS

The device nurse intervention facilitated the patient's adaptation to the shock device, increased the health-related QOL, and reduced the patient's anxiety.

Changes in quality of life, depression, general anxiety, and heart-focused anxiety after defibrillator implantation

Aims

The Anxiety‐CHF (Anxiety in patients with Chronic Heart Failure) study investigated heart‐focused anxiety (HFA, with the dimensions fear, attention, and avoidance of physical activity), general anxiety, depression, and quality of life (QoL) in patients with heart failure. Psychological measures were assessed before and up to 2 years after the implantation of an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) with or without cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillator (CRT‐D).

Methods and results

One hundred thirty‐two patients were enrolled in this monocentric prospective study (44/88 CRT‐D/ICD, mean age 61 ± 14 years, mean left ventricular ejection fraction 31 ± 9%, and 29% women). Psychological assessment was performed before device implantation as well as after 5, 12, and 24 months. After device implantation, mean total HFA, HFA‐fear, HFA‐attention, general anxiety, and QoL improved significantly. Depression and HFA‐related avoidance of physical activity did not change. CRT‐D patients compared with ICD recipients and women compared with men reported worse QoL at baseline. Younger patients (<median of 63 years) had higher levels of general anxiety and lower levels of HFA‐avoidance at baseline than older patients. After 24 months, groups no longer differed from each other on these scores. Patients with a history of shock or anti‐tachycardia pacing (shock/ATP; N = 19) reported no improvements in psychological measures and had significantly higher total HFA and HFA‐avoidance levels after 2 years than participants without shock/ATP.

Conclusions

Anxiety and QoL improved after device implantation, and depression and HFA‐avoidance remained unchanged. HFA may be more pronounced after shock/ATP. Psychological counselling in these patients to reduce HFA and increase physical activity should be considered.