Gender disparities in quality of life and psychological disturbance in patients with implantable cardioverter-defibrillators.

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.