The left ventricular assist device experience: Recipient and caregiver perception of stress differs

The left ventricular assist device (LVAD), an invaluable technology that saves and prolongs lives, is associated with a variety of stressors for both device recipients and their caregivers. Particularly, given the demand for caregiving post-LVAD implantation, it appears that caregivers can experience overwhelming stress, which affects their quality of life as well as recipients' outcomes. Although recipients and caregivers experience some similar stressors related to LVAD, important differences may exist between the two groups.

Using the LVAD Stress Questionnaire (LVADSQ), the current study aimed to examine what aspects of LVAD caregivers and recipients perceive as most stressful and how LVAD caregivers' and recipients' level of stress differs.

This study involved 71 LVAD recipients who were an average of 24.29 months (SD = 22.91) post-LVAD implantation and 50 caregivers of these recipients. Mann-Whitney U tests were conducted to examine differences in ratings of 18 LVAD-related stressors between the LVAD caregivers and recipients.

The results indicated that LVAD caregivers and recipients rated LVAD-related stressors significantly differently. Caregivers rated alarms, LVAD-related pain or discomfort, fear of device failure, and fear of stroke to be significantly more stressful than LVAD recipients. LVAD recipients rated showering with an LVAD and LVAD-related interference with pleasurable activities to be significantly more stressful than caregivers.

LVAD recipients and caregivers experience a myriad of stressors post-LVAD placement and the aspects they perceive as stressful differ. Awareness of these differing appraisals is important to maximize teaching and to provide targeted support to caregivers and recipients.