Patient-reported outcomes of individuals living with an implanted cardioverter defibrillator

Implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICD), life‐saving devices that may prevent sudden cardiac death from cardiac arrhythmias, are implanted in people who have had cardiac arrests and increasingly in people with severe heart failure who are at risk for a primary ventricular arrhythmia. The clinical benefits of ICD implantation contrasts with evidence suggesting ICDs may also have untoward effects on recipients’ quality of life and psycho‐emotional status. Yet, the research on ICDs and patient‐reported outcomes is very limited and has produced inconclusive findings. This project will study people with ICD’s patient‐reported outcomes, including their mental, physical, and social health, in an attempt to understand the non‐surgical factors that may influence the long term success of the use of ICDs.

Faculty Supervisor:

Dr. Pamela Ratner

Student:

Sandra Lauck

Partner:

Providence Health Care

Discipline:

Nursing

Sector:

Medical devices

University:

University of British Columbia