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Published on: August 16, 2021
Left Ventricular Assist Device Caregiver Experiences and Health Outcomes: A Systematic Review of Qualitative and
Megan M Streur1, Jonathan P Auld1, Ana Carolina Sauer Liberato1
1School of Nursing, Biobehavioral Nursing and Health Informatics, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington.
Background:
Knowledge synthesis is lacking regarding outcomes and experiences of caregivers of adult patients living with continuous flow left ventricular assist devices (CF-LVAD). The purpose of this systematic review was to summarize qualitative data related to the experience of caregivers of adult patients living with CF-LVAD as well as quantitative data related to health outcomes of caregivers.
Methods And Results:
Multiple databases were systematically queried for studies of qualitative experiences and quantitative health outcomes for caregivers of adult CF-LVAD recipients. Search dates were constrained to articles published between 2004 and August of 2018 because CF-LVADs were not routinely implanted before 2004. Two authors independently screened 683 articles; 15 met predetermined inclusion criteria. Eligible articles reported results from 13 studies. Of those, 8 used either qualitative or mixed methods and 5 used quantitative methods. Caregivers were primarily female (81%) and their mean age was 59 years. Qualitative studies revealed 3 overarching themes related to the caregiver role, coping strategies, and LVAD decisions. Quantitative studies revealed caregiver strain peaked between 1 and 3 months after implantation, anxiety and depression were relatively stable, mental health status improved, and physical health status was stable from before to after implantation.
Conclusions:
CF-LVAD caregivers experience significant, sustained emotional strain for 3 months after implantation, reporting considerable stress in meeting their personal needs and those of their loved one.
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