Quality of Life and Psychological Wellbeing in Patients with Vasovagal Syncope
Date
2019-02-22
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Abstract
Background: Vasovagal syncope (VVS) is the most common form of syncope. Previous findings have indicated that VVS patients experience a poor health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and considerable psychological distress. However, there is limited data comparing both outcomes between VVS patients and closely-matched healthy individuals, as well as identifying specific factors that affect changes in QoL over time. Aims: We aimed to identify the differences in HRQoL and psychological profile between VVS patients and a contemporary group of non-fainting healthy individuals. We also aimed to examine the change in HRQoL over time in VVS patients, as well as explore whether change differed with treatment or fainting during study follow up. Methods: The RAND 36-Item Health Survey (RAND36) or Short Form Health Survey (SF36), 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 by VVS patients at baseline, 6 months, and 12 months. Results: At baseline, VVS patients reported poorer HRQoL on all scales of the RAND36 and the VAS compared to healthy participants. VVS patients had significantly greater anxiety, depression, and anxiety sensitivity, as well as more negative affect and less positive affect. Over a 1-year period, patients reported improvement in all SF36 dimensions except for bodily pain. Post hoc analyses indicated that differences first occurred between baseline and 6 months for all but general health. Additionally, recent faints experienced during follow up or study drug randomization did not alter the improvements. Conclusions: The results from this thesis further support a negative relationship between VVS and a patient’s quality of life and psychological profile. Patients may benefit from a more comprehensive assessment and treatment of HRQoL, anxiety, and depression during presentation and subsequent follow up visits. Moreover, while HRQoL improves in VVS patients over time, future initiatives could identify alternative factors that may contribute to these changes.
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Keywords
vasovagal syncope, quality of life, psychological distress, patient reported outcomes
Citation
Ng, J. (2019). Quality of Life and Psychological Wellbeing in Patients with Vasovagal Syncope (Master's thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca.