Department of Paediatric Cardiology, University of Leipzig - Heart Centre, Strümpellstr. 39, 04289Leipzig, Germany.
Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, University of Leipzig, Liebigstraße 20a, 04103Leipzig, Germany; LIFE - Leipzig Research Centre for Civilization Diseases, University of Leipzig, Philipp-Rosenthal-Str. 27, 04103Leipzig, Germany.
Cardiol Young. 2020 Apr;30(4):549-559. doi: 10.1017/S104795112000061X. Epub 2020 Apr 13.
The implantation of a pacemaker or an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator during childhood may reduce quality of life and lead to mental health problems. This study aimed to evaluate potential mental health problems (i.e., depressive and anxiety symptoms) and quality of life in children with cardiac active devices in comparison to healthy peers.
We analysed data of children with pacemakers or implantable cardioverter-defibrillators aged 6-18 years. Quality of life, depressive and anxiety symptoms were assessed by standardised questionnaires. The results were compared to age-matched reference groups.
Children with implantable cardioverter-defibrillator showed significant lower quality of life in comparison to reference group (p = 0.03), but there was no difference in quality of life between children with pacemaker and reference group. There was no significant difference in depressive symptoms between children with a cardiac rhythm device compared to reference group (self-report: p = 0.67; proxy report: p = 0.49). There was no significant difference in anxiety (p = 0.53) and depressive symptoms (p = 0.86) between children with pacemaker and children with implantable cardioverter-defibrillator.
Living with an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator in childhood seems to decrease the patients' quality of life. Although children with pacemaker and implantable cardioverter-defibrillator don't seem to show more depressive and anxiety symptoms in comparison to their healthy peers, there still can be an increased risk for those children to develop mental health problems. Therefore, treating physicians should be aware of potential mental health problems and provide the patients and their families with appropriate therapeutic offers.
儿童时期植入心脏起搏器或植入式心律转复除颤器可能会降低生活质量并导致心理健康问题。本研究旨在评估患有心脏活性器械的儿童与健康同龄人相比潜在的心理健康问题（即抑郁和焦虑症状）和生活质量。
我们分析了年龄在 6-18 岁之间的患有心脏起搏器或植入式心律转复除颤器的儿童的数据。使用标准化问卷评估生活质量、抑郁和焦虑症状。将结果与年龄匹配的参考组进行比较。
与参考组相比，植入式心律转复除颤器患儿的生活质量显著降低（p = 0.03），但起搏器患儿与参考组之间的生活质量无差异。与参考组相比，患有心脏节律装置的儿童的抑郁症状无显著差异（自我报告：p = 0.67；代理报告：p = 0.49）。与起搏器患儿相比，植入式心律转复除颤器患儿的焦虑（p = 0.53）和抑郁症状（p = 0.86）无显著差异。
儿童期植入植入式心律转复除颤器似乎会降低患者的生活质量。尽管与健康同龄人相比，起搏器和植入式心律转复除颤器患儿似乎没有更多的抑郁和焦虑症状，但这些儿童仍有可能出现心理健康问题的风险增加。因此，治疗医生应该意识到潜在的心理健康问题，并为患者及其家人提供适当的治疗方案。
