Lower quality of life was significantly associated with higher mood disturbance and lower sexual health in ICD recipients, underscoring the importance of addressing emotional and sexual well-being in ICD patient care.
Lower quality of life was significantly associated with higher mood disturbance in ICD patients.
Lower quality of life was significantly associated with lower sexual health in ICD patients.
No significant association was found between mood disturbance and sexual health in ICD patients.
Multiple linear regression confirmed that quality of life in ICD patients was influenced by both mood disturbance and sexual health.
The study sample of 30 participants provided 90% statistical power at a 5% error rate.
Anxiety, depression, and fears around physical and sexual activity are common among ICD patients but remain underexplored.
This research suggests that people living with implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) — devices implanted in the chest to correct dangerous heart rhythms — experience meaningful connections between their overall quality of life, emotional well-being, and sexual health. In a study of 30 ICD patients ranging in age from 27 to 83, researchers found that those who reported worse quality of life also tended to report greater mood disturbances (such as anxiety or depression) and poorer sexual health. These associations were statistically significant and were confirmed using multiple analytical approaches. Interestingly, mood disturbance and sexual health did not appear to be directly linked to each other — instead, they each seem to independently affect quality of life. This suggests that emotional struggles and sexual health concerns are distinct issues that may both need to be addressed separately in caring for ICD patients, rather than assuming that treating one will automatically improve the other. This research suggests that ICD care should extend beyond managing heart rhythm and device function to also include support for patients' emotional and sexual well-being. The authors call for targeted interventions addressing these areas and for future studies with larger patient groups to better understand these relationships. The findings highlight that living with an ICD affects multiple dimensions of a person's life, and holistic care approaches may lead to better overall outcomes for patients.
Herrera Viancha R, Lima Dos Santos S, Gómez Ortega O, Flórez Flórez M, Moore W, Tofthagen C. (2025). Quality of Life, Mood Disturbance, and Sexual Health in Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators Recipients.. Clinical nursing research. https://doi.org/10.1177/10547738251347417