Quality of life and emotional control in patients following implantable cardioverter-defibrillator implantation
G Kubielas, G Kubielas, I Uchmanowicz, M LewandowskaAbstract
Introduction
Patients with implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) often experience substantial changes in quality of life, encompassing both physical and psychological dimensions. Increasing attention has been paid to the role of emotional factors, particularly depressive symptoms, in overall well-being and adaptation to living with an ICD.
Objective
The primary aim of this study was to assess quality of life in patients after ICD implantation and to identify selected psychological factors—especially emotional suppression—that may affect specific domains of quality of life.
Materials and Methods
The study included 161 patients with ICDs who were hospitalized or treated on an outpatient basis in specialized centers in Wrocław. Standardized instruments were used: the World Health Organization Quality of Life Questionnaire (WHOQoL-BREF) to assess quality of life and the Courtauld Emotional Control Scale (CECS) to measure emotional suppression related to anger, depression, and anxiety. Statistical analyses were performed using Pearson’s correlation coefficients, with statistical significance set at p < 0.05.
Results
Overall quality of life was rated as good (M = 3.89). The highest scores were observed in the environmental domain, whereas the physical domain received the lowest ratings. A significant negative correlation was found between suppression of depressive emotions and quality of life in the psychological (r = −0.183) and environmental (r = −0.189) domains. No significant associations were observed between suppression of anger or anxiety and quality of life.
Conclusions
Suppression of depressive emotions is associated with lower quality of life in the psychological and environmental domains among patients with ICDs. In contrast, suppression of anger and anxiety showed no significant impact. Despite moderate self-assessments of health status, patients generally reported a positive overall quality of life, particularly in the environmental domain. These findings highlight the importance of addressing depressive symptoms through targeted psychological interventions and incorporating routine mental health screening into standard ICD care.