VASOVAGAL SYNCOPE PATIENTS HAVE A REDUCED QUALITY OF LIFE AND GREATER PSYCHOLOGICAL DISTRESS COMPARED TO HEALTHY SUBJECTS

Abstract

Patients with vasovagal syncope (VVS) are highly symptomatic and have a reduced health-related quality of life (HRQoL). There is limited data comparing the HRQoL and psychological profile between VVS patients and healthy individuals. The purpose of this study was to examine the differences in HRQoL and psychological distress between VVS patients and healthy subjects. We tested the hypothesis that VVS patients will have greater impairment in both HRQoL and psychological profile compared to healthy individuals. The RAND 36-Item Health Survey (RAND36), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and Anxiety Sensitivity Index (ASI) were completed at baseline by VVS patients and healthy subjects enrolled in the Second Prevention of Syncope Trial (POST II), a randomized, placebo-controlled trial of fludrocortisone for VVS. Data are reported as mean±SD with Student’s t-tests. Data are available on 76 VVS patients (34±14 years; 68% F) and 85 healthy subjects (35±11 years; 80% F). For the RAND36 (Table), VVS patients reported poorer physical functioning (p < 0.001), emotional well-being (p < 0.001), social functioning (p < 0.001), and general health (p < 0.001) compared to healthy subjects. They also had less energy (p < 0.001), more pain (p < 0.001), and greater role limitations due to both physical health (p < 0.001) and emotional problems (p < 0.001). For the HADS, VVS patients had greater anxiety (p < 0.001) and were more depressed (p < 0.001). VVS patients also reported greater anxiety sensitivity in the ASI (p < 0.001). VVS patients have a reduced HRQoL and poorer psychological profile compared to healthy subjects. VVS patients may benefit from targeted interventions addressing these concerns.