Determining the Relationship Between Sleep Problems, Shock Pain, and Shock Anxiety in Patients With ICD

This study aimed to determine the relationship between sleep problems, shock pain, and shock anxiety in patients with implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) and the affecting factors.

The population of this descriptive cross-sectional study consisted of all patients who underwent ICD implantation in university hospital (N = 200), and the sample consisted of patients who met the inclusion criteria of the study (n = 132). Data were obtained using a "General Information Form", the "Florida Shock Anxiety Scale (FSAS)", the "Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS)", the "Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI)", and the "Visual Pain Scale (VPS)". The mean age of the patients was 66.13 years. The VPS was 6.40 ± 3.36; the mean FSAS score was 29.98 ± 8.46; the mean PSQI score was 8.02 ± 3.81; the mean ESS score was 7.59 ± 4.10. PSQI had a statistically significant correlation with the total FSAS score (p < 0.001) and a statistically insignificant correlation with ESS (p > 0.001). Age, sex, marital status, smoking status, cohabitants, previous ICD shocks, the status of lying on ICD, and fear of dislocation of ICD affected the total FSAS score; sex, employment status, history of heart attack, defined sleep disorder, awakening from sleep due to nightmares, and cessation of breathing during sleep affected the total PSQI score; history of previously defined sleep disorder, history of heart attack, use of medication for a sleep disorder, the pain felt when lying on ICD, and pain experienced during ICD shocks affected the total ESS score. The mean shock VPS scores differed between patients who received an ICD shock during sleep and those who were awakened by nightmares.

It was found that the shock anxiety and shock pain scores of ICD patients were above average, that they had poor sleep quality, and that their sleepiness was at the level of "normal but increased daytime sleepiness".