Psychosocial impact of pacemakers and implantable cardioverter-defibrillators

Implantation of a pacemaker or an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) in a patient may result in a change in the body image and cause problems in psychosocial adaptation and quality-of-life. We surveyed patients aged 40 to 70 years who underwent their first pectoral implantation of a pacemaker or an ICD. hll subjects were asked to complete a specially designed questionnaire. Data analysis was performed for three patient groups (pacemaker, ICD patients who received therapeutic shocks, and those who did not receive shocks). The results showed that patients in the shocked ICD group were more likely than those in the other groups to report limitations to their leisure activities, to perceive their device as prolonging their life but also admitting anxiety about device malfunction. In the shocked ICD group, 42% would be interested in joining a support group.