Factors influencing quality of life of patients with cardiovascular implantable electronic devices

Introduction
Implantable cardiac devices are intended to protect patients from life-threatening arrhythmias and improve their quality of life. However, implantation of a cardiac device is associated with various limitations in terms of functioning in everyday life. Since the number of patients who require implantation of a pacemaker or cardioverter-defibrillator is increasing every year, it is important to determine quality of life of this group of patients and influencing factors. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the quality of life of patients with implanted cardiac devices.

Material and methods
The study was conducted among 101 patients of a cardiology outpatient clinic at the Independent Public Regional Hospital in Szczecin. Data were collected using diagnostic survey method. Two tools were applied: WHOQOL-BREF scale used for measuring quality of life and a self-constructed questionnaire collecting socio-demographic and medical data.

Results
The most common cardiac device among patients was a pacemaker (82.2%), 13.9% had a cardioverter-defibrillator implanted, and the smallest group (4%) consisted of people with a resynchronization therapy device. Most of surveyed patients with an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (92.1%) had never experienced an electrical discharge from the device. The most frequently declared place of residence were rural areas (31.7%) and cities of up to 100,000 inhabitants (32.7%). Analysis of WHOQOL-BREF scale results showed that patients’ quality of life ranged from average to good. A significant correlation was found between quality of life and place of residence and type of cardiac device.

Conclusions
The respondents rated their quality of life mostly poor in terms of physical dimension. A significant determinants of patients’ quality of life were place of residence and type of implanted cardiac device.