Let It Beat: How Lifestyle and Psychosocial Factors Affect the Risk of Sudden Cardiac Death-A 10-Year Follow-Up Study.

Jana Obrova,Jana Furstova,Eliska Sovova,Katerina Ivanova,Milos Taborsky

doi:10.3390/ijerph19052627

Abstract

(1) Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the lifestyle and occurrence of psychosocial factors in patients with a high risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD) and to explore their effect on the occurrence of the adequate therapy of an Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD). (2) Methods: In this retro-prospective single-centre study, a group of patients aged 18–65 years old, who underwent the first ICD implantation for primary (PP) or secondary (SP) prevention between 2010–2014, was studied. The control group consisted of pair-matched (age ± 5 years, gender) respondents without a high risk of SCD. Information was obtained using a self-reported questionnaire and hospital electronic health records. The adequacy of ICD therapy was evaluated regularly until 31 January 2020. Multivariate logistic regression models were employed to assess the risk of SCD. (3) Results: A family history of SCD, coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus and depression significantly aggravated the odds of being at a high risk of SCD. The occurrence of an appropriate ICD therapy was significantly associated with being in the SP group, BMI, education level and TV/PC screen time. (4) Conclusions: Lifestyle and psychosocial factors have been confirmed to affect the risk of SCD. Early identification and treatment of coronary artery disease and its risk factors remain the cornerstones of preventive effort. Further research is needed to evaluate the complex nature of psychosocial determinants of cardiac health.

Highlights

Sudden cardiac death (SCD) represents a serious problem due to its incidence and impact on society, especially the victims’ families [1,2]
The aims of this study were (1) to compare the secondary and primary prevention group of patients with an Implantable Cardioverter–Defibrillator (ICD) with the control group and to evaluate whether the lifestyle and psychosocial factors could affect the probability of being at high risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD); and (2) to compare the primary and secondary prevention patients to assess the effect of lifestyle and psychosocial factors on the occurrence of the adequate ICD therapy during the follow-up
There were no significant differences in the sociodemographic, lifestyle and health variables between the primary prevention” (PP) and secondary prevention” (SP) patients

Summary

Introduction

Sudden cardiac death (SCD) represents a serious problem due to its incidence and impact on society, especially the victims’ families [1,2]. It can be prevented by implantation of an Implantable Cardioverter–Defibrillator (ICD) [3–8]. This is a small battery-powered device placed in the chest to detect and stop any life-threatening arrhythmias in patients at high risk of SCD. Persons who have experienced symptomatic life-threatening arrhythmia or have been successfully resuscitated from sudden cardiac arrest belong to this group, and they usually undergo implantation of an ICD for “secondary prevention” (SP) [2].

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Discussion

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