Quality of life metrics in arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy patients: The impact of age, shock and sex

Background Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) patients face many medical and psychosocial challenges. However, the quality of life (QOL) outcomes of these patients remains largely unexplored. Methods 159 ARVC patients completed a psychosocial survey including the Short Form Health Survey, Florida Shock Anxiety Scale, and Florida Patient Acceptance Survey. These cross-sectional data were used to examine the general and device-specific QOL of these patients compared to normative samples, and to determine the impact of age, shock and sex on these outcome measures. Results ARVC patients reported lower physical and mental QOL compared to a normative U.S sample. Compared to an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) sample, they reported higher mental and physical QOL. Compared to a hypertrophic cardiomyopathy sample, they reported lower physical but higher mental QOL. ARVC patients aged 18–35 reported significantly lower mental QOL than older patients. Male patients with no implantable defibrillator shock history reported significantly higher mental QOL scores than those with shock history. Shock anxiety scores were significantly higher among individuals who had experienced at least one shock. Female ARVC patients reported significantly higher shock anxiety and lower mental QOL compared to male patients. Conclusion ARVC patients report lower mental and physical QOL than a U.S. normative sample, but report mostly superior QOL compared to relevant cardiac samples. Younger ARVC patients, female patients, and those who have experienced at least one device shock are at risk for psychosocial difficulties, including poorer QOL outcomes.