The impact of the implantable cardioverter defibrillator on quality-of-life.

The implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) is an established treatment for patients with life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias. While it clearly reduces the incidence of death from recurrent arrhythmia, little is known about the impact on patients' quality-of-life. In this prospective study, quality-of-life was assessed by questionnaire before and after ICD implantation. The "Sickness Impact Profile" (SIP), which evaluates physical, psychosocial, and other activities, as well as functions of daily life, was used. Employment and rehospitalization rates were also examined. Twenty-one of 23 consecutive patients, aged 58 +/- 11 years, undergoing ICD implantation at Royal Perth Hospital were studied. During the 14 +/- 8 month follow-up, 4 patients died. Functional capacity was unchanged in all but one of the survivors in whom it improved from New York Heart Association Class III to II. Four of 8 survivors employed before implant have since retired. Six patients required rehospitalization on 13 occasions, problems related to arrhythmias or the ICD. Overall SIP scores preimplant (11.2 +/- 9.3; P < 0.05) were significantly worse at 6-month follow-up (21.7 +/- 18.2), but returned to preimplant levels by 12-month follow-up (8.8 +/- 10.8; NS). This was primarily due to transient problems in the areas of emotional behavior, alertness, and social interaction. SIP psychosocial dimension scores: preimplant: 7.2 +/- 9.0; 6-month: 17.8 +/- 18.1 (P < 0.05); and 12-month: 8.6 +/- 10.3 (NS). Early retirement and hospitalizations due to arrhythmias may still be expected even after implantation of an ICD; however, quality-of-life appears only to temporarily decline.