Quality of life with defibrillator therapy or amiodarone in heart failure.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) therapy significantly prolongs life in patients at increased risk for sudden death from depressed left ventricular function. However, whether this increased longevity is accompanied by deterioration in the quality of life is unclear.

Methods

In a randomized trial, we compared ICD therapy or amiodarone with state-of-the-art medical therapy alone in 2521 patients who had stable heart failure with depressed left ventricular function. We prospectively measured quality of life at baseline and at months 3, 12, and 30; data collection was 93 to 98% complete. The Duke Activity Status Index (which measures cardiac physical functioning) and the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Mental Health Inventory 5 (which measures ps

SUBMITTER: Mark DB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2823628 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature