New research suggests that insomnia and psychosocial factors can impact quality of life in patients with implantable cardioverter defibrillators, according to Medscape.
The cross-sectional study of more than 200 patients, each with an ICD and most with coronary artery disease, showed that the presence of insomnia and/or symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) significantly decreased acceptance of the device, which was defined as “the psychological accommodation and understanding of the device and its benefits.”
“Patients are telling us that they are very open to receiving information on ways to deal with all of this, especially through bibliography and educational booklets that are specifically targeted. And that’s something we can provide as routine care,” lead author Jonathan Gallagher (Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Ireland) told heartwire from Medscape.
