Reduced quality of life and greater psychological distress in vasovagal syncope patients compared to healthy individuals

• Published in: Pacing and clinical electrophysiology 2019-02, Vol.42 (2), p.180-188
• Main Authors: Ng, Jessica, Sheldon, Robert S., Ritchie, Debbie, Raj, Vidya, Raj, Satish R.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Anxiety; Cross-Sectional Studies; depression; Emotions; Female; Humans; Male; Mental depression; Patients; Quality of Life; Self Report; Stress, Psychological - etiology; Syncope, Vasovagal - complications; Syncope, Vasovagal - psychology; Vasovagal syncope
• ISSN: 0147-8389; 1540-8159
• DOI: 10.1111/pace.13559

Background Vasovagal syncope (VVS) patients have a reduced health‐related quality of life (HRQoL). There are limited data comparing HRQoL and psychological profile in VVS patients and healthy individuals. We tested the hypothesis that VVS patients have greater impairment in both HRQoL and psychological profile compared to healthy nonfainting individuals, and that both outcome measures are negatively correlated for VVS patients. Methods The RAND 36‐Item Health Survey (RAND36), global health visual analogue scale (VAS), Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Anxiety Sensitivity Index, and Positive and Negative Affect Schedule – Expanded Form were completed by healthy individuals and at baseline by VVS patients enrolled in the Second Prevention of Syncope Trial, a randomized, placebo‐controlled trial of fludrocortisone for VVS. Results Data were available on 76 VVS patients (34 ± 14 years; 68% F) and 85 healthy participants (35 ± 11 years; 80% F). Compared to healthy participants, VVS patients reported poorer HRQoL on all scales of the RAND36 and the VAS. VVS patients had significantly greater anxiety, depression, and anxiety sensitivity (each P