Longitudinal changes in quality of life following ICD implant and the impact of age, gender, and ICD shocks: observations from the INTRINSIC RV trial

Cardiac stereotactic radiation therapy for refractory ventricular arrhythmias in patients with left ventricular assist devices

Left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation is an established treatment for patients with advanced heart failure refractory to medical therapy. However, the incidence of ventricular arrhythmias (VAs) is high in this population, both in the acute and delayed phases after implantation. About one-third of patients implanted with an LVAD will experience sustained VAs, predisposing these patients to worse outcomes and complicating patient management. The combination of pre-existing myocardial substrate and complex electrical remodeling after LVAD implantation account for the high incidence of VAs observed in this population. LVAD patients presenting VAs refractory to antiarrhythmic therapy and catheter ablation procedures are not rare. In such patients, treatment options are extremely limited. Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) is a technique that delivers precise and high doses of radiation to highly defined targets, reducing exposure to adjacent normal tissue. Cardiac SBRT has recently emerged as a promising alternative with a growing number of case series reporting the effectiveness of the technique in reducing the VA burden in patients with arrhythmias refractory to conventional therapies. The safety profile of cardiac SBRT also appears favorable, even though the current clinical experience remains limited. The use of cardiac SBRT for the treatment of refractory VAs in patients implanted with an LVAD are even more scarce. This review summarizes the clinical experience of cardiac SBRT in LVAD patients and describes technical considerations related to the implementation of the SBRT procedure in the presence of an LVAD.

Catheter Ablation of Ventricular Arrhythmia in Patients With an Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) shocks are associated with higher rates of mortality and reduced quality of life. In this study we aimed to investigate the effectiveness of catheter ablation (CA) of ventricular tachycardia in patients with an ICD.

METHODS

An electronic literature search was conducted to identify randomized controlled trials that compared CA vs control. The primary outcomes were recurrence of ventricular arrhythmia (ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation) and mortality. Kaplan-Meier curves for these outcomes were digitized to obtain individual patient data, which were pooled in a 1-stage meta-analysis to determine hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Secondary outcomes included cardiac hospitalization, electrical storm, syncope, appropriate ICD therapies, appropriate ICD shocks, and inappropriate shocks. For these, study-level HRs or risk ratios were obtained and pooled in random effects meta-analyses. Subgroup analysis was performed for trials that investigated prophylactic CA (before or during ICD implantation).

RESULTS

Data on 9 studies and 1103 patients were retrieved. CA significantly reduced ventricular tachycardia/ventricular fibrillation recurrence compared with control (shared frailty HR, 0.63; 95% CI, 0.49-0.81; P < 0.001) but not mortality (shared frailty HR, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.57-1.23; P = 0.361). CA was associated with significantly lower rates of cardiac hospitalization, electrical storm, appropriate ICD therapies and shocks, but not syncope or inappropriate shocks. Subgroup analysis showed similar results for prophylactic CA except that no significant difference was observed for cardiac hospitalizations.

CONCLUSIONS

CA is associated with reduced ventricular arrhythmia recurrence, appropriate ICD therapies/shocks, electrical storm, and cardiac hospitalization, and might be effective in preventing future morbidity. Future trials are needed to support the continued benefit of these promising results, and to investigate the optimal timing of ablation.

The patient perspective on remote monitoring of implantable cardiac devices

Aims

Remote monitoring for patients with cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) is well established in clinical routine and recommended by current guidelines. Nevertheless, data regarding patients' perceptions are limited. Therefore, this study aims to analyze the patient perspectives on the remote monitoring of cardiac devices in Germany.

Methods and results

Patients with CIEDs and remote monitoring of all current manufacturers from three German centers were asked to participate. The questionnaire consisted of 37 questions regarding the patients' individual use and perspectives on remote monitoring. Survey participation was anonymous and on a voluntary basis. A total of 617 patients (71.6% men) participated. Most patients reported feeling well informed (69.3%) and reported having unchanged or improved coping (98.8%) since the start of remote monitoring. At least 39.7% of patients experienced technical problems regarding the transmitter, whereas most patients (60.3%) reported that they never noted technical issues. Older patients had significantly less interest than younger patients in using their own smartphones for data transfer (p < 0.001).

Conclusion

Patients with remote follow-up of CIED reported that they felt well informed about the remote monitoring approach. Remote monitoring can support coping with their disease. With remote monitoring, patients experienced a prolongation of intervals of in-person follow-up visits, and especially younger patients would appreciate smartphone-based data transfer of their CIEDs.

The Impact of Cardiac Devices on Patients’ Quality of Life—A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

The implantation of cardiac devices significantly reduces morbidity and mortality in patients with cardiac arrhythmias. Arrhythmias as well as therapy delivered by the device may impact quality of life of patients concerned considerably. Therefore we aimed at conducting a systematic search and meta-analysis of trials examining the impact of the implantation of cardiac devices, namely implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICD), pacemakers and left-ventricular assist devices (LVAD) on quality of life. After pre-registering the trial with the PROSPERO database, we searched Medline, PsycINFO, Web of Science and the Cochrane databases for relevant publications. Study quality was assessed by two independent reviewers using standardized protocols. A total of 37 trials met our inclusion criteria. Of these, 31 trials were cohort trials while 6 trials used a randomized controlled design. We found large pre-post effect sizes for positive associations between quality of life and all types of devices. The effect sizes for LVAD, pacemaker and ICD patients were g = 1.64, g = 1.32 and g = 0.64, respectively. There was a lack of trials examining the effect of implantation on quality of life relative to control conditions. Trials assessing quality of life in patients with cardiac devices are still scarce. Yet, the existing data suggest beneficial effects of cardiac devices on quality of life. We recommend that clinical trials on cardiac devices routinely assess quality of life or other parameters of psychological well-being as a decisive study endpoint. Furthermore, improvements in psychological well-being should influence decisions about implantations of cardiac devices and be part of patient education and may impact shared decision-making.

A Prospective Longitudinal Study of Health-Related Quality of Life and Psychological Wellbeing after an Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator in Patients with Genetic Heart Diseases

Background

Genetic heart diseases (GHDs) can be clinically heterogeneous and pose an increased risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD). The implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) is a lifesaving therapy. Impacts on prospective and long-term psychological and health-related quality of life (HR-QoL) after ICD implant in patients with GHDs are unknown.

Objectives

Investigate the psychological functioning and HR-QoL over time in patients with GHDs who receive an ICD, and identify risk factors for poor psychological functioning and HR-QoL.

Methods

A longitudinal, prospective study design was used. Patients attending a specialized clinic, diagnosed with a GHD for which they received an ICD between May 2012 and January 2015, were eligible. Baseline surveys were completed prior to ICD implantation with 5-year follow-up after ICD implant. We measured psychological functioning (Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale, Florida Shock Anxiety Scale), HR-QoL (Short-Form 36v2), and device acceptance (Florida Patient Acceptance Scale).

Results

Forty patients were included (mean age 46.3 ± 14.2 years; 65.0% male). Mean psychological and HR-QoL measures were within normative ranges during follow-up. After 12 months, 33.3% and 19.4% of participants showed clinically elevated levels of anxiety and depression, respectively. Longitudinal mixed-effect analysis showed significant improvements from baseline to first follow-up for the overall cohort, with variability increasing after 36 months. Nontertiary education and female sex predicted worse mental HR-QoL and anxiety over time, while comorbidities predicted depression and worse physical HR-QoL.

Conclusion

While the majority of patients with a GHD adjust well to their ICD implant, a subset of patients experience poor psychological and HR-QoL outcomes.

Increased Quality of Life Among Newly Diagnosed Patients With Heart Failure With Reduced Ejection Fraction in the Months After Initiation of Guideline-Directed Medical Therapy and Wearable Cardioverter Defibrillator Prescription

BACKGROUND

The patient experience of heart failure involves a multi-impact symptom response with functional limitations, psychological changes, and significant treatment burden.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to examine the change in patient-reported outcomes in newly diagnosed patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) prescribed a wearable cardioverter defibrillator.

METHODS

Adults hospitalized for new-onset heart failure, due to ischemic or nonischemic cardiomyopathy, and prescribed a wearable cardioverter defibrillator within 10 days post discharge were approached for inclusion. Participants completed the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire at 3 time points: baseline, day 90, and day 180.

RESULTS

A total of 210 patients (26% female) were included. All Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire subscales (physical limitation, symptom frequency, quality of life, and social limitation) showed improvement from baseline to day 90 (all Ps < .001). Only quality of life continued to improve from day 90 to day 180 (P < .001). By day 90, nearly 70% of patients showed an improvement in quality of life (67.9%, n = 91), and by day 180, more than 80% (82.8%, n = 111) reported a net improvement. Five patients (3.7%) reported a net decrease, and 18 patients (13.4%) had no net change in quality of life during the 180-day period.

CONCLUSION

Patient-reported quality of life improved significantly among patients newly diagnosed with HFrEF and prescribed a wearable cardioverter defibrillator. These results suggest that pursuing guideline-directed medical therapy for HFrEF, while being protected by the wearable cardioverter defibrillator, is likely to provide symptom relief and improve quality of life.

Health-related quality of life in patients with implantable cardioverter defibrillators in Sweden: a cross-sectional observational trial

OBJECTIVES

Decisions regarding implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) must consider information about presumed health-related quality of life (HRQL). The purpose of the study was to assess HRQL in patients with ICD and compare it to a Swedish age-matched and sex-matched population.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional observational trial.

SETTING

Swedish ICD cohort.

INTERVENTIONS

Short form 36 (SF-36) questionnaires from ICD recipients implanted 2007-2017 (response rate 77.2%) were analysed using Mann-Whitney U test and effect size (ES).

RESULTS

In total, 223 patients (mean age 71.1±9.7 years, 82.1% men) were included. In most SF-36 domains (physical functioning (PF), role physical, general health (GH), vitality, social functioning and mental health), the score for patients with ICD was significantly lower (ES range 0.23-0.41, ie, small difference) than norms, except for bodily pain and role emotional. Both the physical component summary (PCS) and the mental component summary (MCS) scores had ES=0.31. Men and women had similar scores. Primary and secondary prevention patients scored similarly, except for worse GH in primary prevention (p=0.016, ES=0.35). Atrial fibrillation was associated with worse PF (ES=0.41) and PCS (ES=0.38). Appropriate therapy, inappropriate shock or complications requiring surgery were not associated with lower scores in any domain. In primary prevention due to ischaemic versus non-ischaemic cardiomyopathy, no domain was significantly different. PCS decreased with higher age strata (p=0.002) in contrast to MCS (p=0.986).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with ICDs have lower physical and mental HRQL than age-matched and sex-matched norms; however, the ESs are small. HRQL is similar regardless of sex, primary/secondary prevention indication, appropriate therapy, inappropriate shock or complications, but decreases with advancing age.

Anxiety and depression symptoms in Danish patients with an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator: prevalence and association with indication and sex up to 2 years of follow-up (data from the national DEFIB-WOMEN study)

AIMS

To investigate (i) the prevalence of anxiety and depression and (ii) the association between indication for implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) implantation and sex in relation to anxiety and depression up to 24 months' follow-up.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Patients with a first-time ICD, participating in the national, multi-centre, prospective DEFIB-WOMEN study (n = 1496; 18% women) completed the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale at baseline, 3, 6, 12, and 24 months. Data were analysed using linear mixed modelling for longitudinal data. Patients with a secondary prophylactic indication (SPI) had higher mean anxiety scores than patients with a primary prophylactic indication (PPI) at baseline, 3, and 12 months and higher mean depression scores at all-time points, except at 24 months. Women had higher mean anxiety scores as compared to men at all-time points; however, only higher mean depression scores at baseline. Overall, women with SPI had higher anxiety and depression symptom scores than men with SPI. Symptoms decreased over time in both women and men. From baseline to follow-up, the prevalence of anxiety (score ≥8) was highest in patients with SPI (13.3-20.2%) as compared to patients with PPI (range 10.0-14.7%). The prevalence of depression was stable over the follow-up period in both groups (range 8.5-11.1%).

CONCLUSION

Patients with a SPI reported higher anxiety and depression scores as compared to patients with PPI. Women reported higher anxiety scores than men, but only higher depression scores at baseline. Women with SPI reported the highest anxiety and depression scores overall.

The impact of implantable cardioverter-defibrillator implantation on health-related quality of life in the DANISH trial

AIM

The Danish Study to Assess the Efficacy of Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillators (ICD) in Patients with Non-ischaemic Systolic Heart Failure (HF) on Mortality (DANISH) found no overall effect on all-cause mortality. The effect of ICD implantation on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) remains to be established as previous trials have demonstrated conflicting results. We investigated the impact of ICD implantation on HRQoL in patients with non-ischaemic systolic HF, a prespecified secondary endpoint in DANISH.

METHODS AND RESULTS

In DANISH, a total of 1116 patients with non-ischaemic systolic HF were randomly assigned (1:1) to ICD implantation or usual clinical care (control). Patients completed disease-specific HRQoL as assessed by Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire (MLHFQ; 0-105, high indicating worse). Changes in HRQoL 8 months after randomization were assessed with a mixed-effects model. At randomization, MLHFQ was completed by 935 (84%) patients (n = 472 in the ICD group and n = 463 in the control group) and was reassessed in 274 (58%) and 292 (63%) patients, respectively after 8 months for the primary analysis. Patients in the ICD group vs. the control group had similar improvements in MLHFQ after 8 months [least square mean -7.0 vs. -4.2 (P = 0.13)]. A clinically relevant improvement (decrease ≥5) in the MLHFQ overall score at 8 months was observed in 151 patients in the ICD group and 148 patients in the control group [55% vs. 51%, respectively (P = 0.25)].

CONCLUSION

Implantable cardioverter-defibrillator implantation in patients with non-ischaemic systolic HF did not significantly alter HRQoL compared with patients randomized to usual clinical care.

Patient-reported outcomes at hospital discharge among patients with arrhythmia: Results from the national DenHeart survey

BACKGROUND

Patient-reported outcomes are important predictors of mortality, cardiovascular events and hospitalisation in patients with cardiac diseases, but differences in patient-reported outcomes between groups of patients with arrhythmia have not yet been investigated.

AIMS

To describe and compare patient-reported outcomes at discharge among patients with different types of cardiac arrhythmia and to examine the associations between demographic characteristics, inhospital factors and patient-reported outcomes.

METHODS

Data were derived from the national DenHeart study including patient-reported outcomes from the following questionnaires: the hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS), HeartQoL, short form 12 (SF-12), current health status (EQ-5D), brief illness perception questionnaire (B-IPQ) and the Edmonton symptom assessment scale (ESAS). Clinical and demographic data were obtained from national registers. Multiple linear and logistic regression models were used to investigate the associations between the potential risk factors and the patient-reported outcomes.

RESULTS

A total of 4251 patients diagnosed with arrhythmia completed the questionnaire. Across the arrhythmia subgroups, some differences were observed. In general, patient-reported outcome scores were worst among patients with 'ventricular arrhythmia' (e.g. highest depression scores and highest prevalence of feeling unsafe at discharge). Regression analysis revealed that longer hospital stay, female gender, being unmarried and having a short education were significantly associated with poor health for almost all arrhythmia subgroups.

CONCLUSION

Differences exist in self-reported health, quality of life and symptom burden across arrhythmia groups with patients with ventricular arrhythmia reporting poorer patient-reported outcomes. Longer hospital stay, female gender, being unmarried and having a low level of education were significantly associated with worse outcomes among the total population.

[Cardiac implantable electronic devices and health-related quality of life]

Patients, scientists and healthcare providers are increasingly interested in identifying interventions that not only reduce mortality but also improve symptoms, function and health-related quality of life. Health-related quality of life is a strong, independent predictor of mortality, cardiovascular events, hospitalization and treatment costs in patients with cardiac diseases. Remote monitoring of pacemakers has a positive effect on health-related quality of life and functional capacity and is equivalent to monitoring these patients in hospitals. Implantation of an implantable cardioverter defibrillator has a major impact on mental health, with the majority of patients experiencing the fear of ICD shocks as particularly detrimental to the quality of life. Variables, such as age, gender and duration of implantation should be considered in the assessment and planning of strategies for improving the quality of life of patients with electronic implantable cardiac devices.

Device Therapy and Arrhythmia Management in Left Ventricular Assist Device Recipients: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association

Left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) are an increasingly used strategy for the management of patients with advanced heart failure with reduced ejection fraction. Although these devices effectively improve survival, atrial and ventricular arrhythmias are common, predispose these patients to additional risk, and complicate patient management. However, there is no consensus on best practices for the medical management of these arrhythmias or on the optimal timing for procedural interventions in patients with refractory arrhythmias. Although the vast majority of these patients have preexisting cardiovascular implantable electronic devices or cardiac resynchronization therapy, given the natural history of heart failure, it is common practice to maintain cardiovascular implantable electronic device detection and therapies after LVAD implantation. Available data, however, are conflicting on the efficacy of and optimal device programming after LVAD implantation. Therefore, the primary objective of this scientific statement is to review the available evidence and to provide guidance on the management of atrial and ventricular arrhythmias in this unique patient population, as well as procedural interventions and cardiovascular implantable electronic device and cardiac resynchronization therapy programming strategies, on the basis of a comprehensive literature review by electrophysiologists, heart failure cardiologists, cardiac surgeons, and cardiovascular nurse specialists with expertise in managing these patients. The structure and design of commercially available LVADs are briefly reviewed, as well as clinical indications for device implantation. The relevant physiological effects of long-term exposure to continuous-flow circulatory support are highlighted, as well as the mechanisms and clinical significance of arrhythmias in the setting of LVAD support.

Quality of life benefits from arrhythmia ablation: A longitudinal study using the C-CAP questionnaire and EQ5D

AIMS

To investigate long-term efficacy of cardiac ablation for symptomatic arrhythmia by gathering generic and arrhythmia-related quality of life data using patient-reported outcome measures before and after ablation.

METHODS

Consecutive patients undergoing cardiac ablation procedures at three sites in the United Kingdom were enrolled (n = 561). Data were collected at baseline, at 8-16 weeks, and 12 months after the ablation with responses from 390 patients received at all three time points. Nonparametric tests were used to identify any changes in patient outcomes due to nonnormal data.

RESULTS

There were significant improvements in symptom severity, impact on life scores, EQ-5D-5L indices, and visual analogue score (VAS) scores at pre- versus 3 months and at preablation versus 1 year. Impact on life score showed additional improvement at 1 year versus 3 months, while improvements in symptom severity, EQ-5D-5L indices, and VAS scores continued to be maintained between 3 months and 1 year.

CONCLUSION

Cardiac ablation provides patients with arrhythmias relief from symptoms, and results in an improvement in quality of life. Improvements observed at 3 months are maintained at 1 year follow-up.

Cardiac implantable electrical devices in women

Clinical trials have demonstrated the benefits of cardiac implantable electrical devices, which include pacemakers, implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs), and cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT), with respect to key clinical outcomes and survival. Women more often require permanent pacing for sick sinus syndrome, whereas atrioventricular block is more common in men. Women appear to have a higher incidence of complications with pacemaker implantation, as well as with ICD and CRT implantation. The indications for ICDs and CRT do not have any distinctions based on sex, and outcomes are comparable in men and women. In fact, women often seem to have better outcomes with CRT compared with men. Despite the demonstrated benefits of these devices, ICDs and CRT are underutilized in women. In this review, we explore sex differences in utilization, outcomes, and complications with pacemakers, ICDs, and CRT.