Psychosocial functioning of patients after left ventricular assist device implantation as destination therapy for heart failure
- 1Faculty of Medicine, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Kraków, Poland
- 2Department of Transplantology and Mechanical Circulatory Support, St. John Paul II Hospital, Kraków, Poland
Abstract
Background: Although contemporary left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) have substantially improved survival in patients with advanced heart failure, data regarding health-related quality of life (QoL) and psychosocial adaptation, particularly among Polish patients receiving LVAD support, remain limited. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate health-related QoL, psychosocial adaptation, and selected aspects of everyday functioning of patients receiving long-term LVAD support as a destination therapy in a single clinical center in Poland. Methods: A total of 22 consecutive eligible patients with a HeartMate 3 LVAD implanted as destination therapy were enrolled during routine follow-up in this pilot, single-center, cross-sectional observational study. Health-related QoL was assessed using the validated Short Form-36 Health Survey (SF-36) and an investigator-developed LVAD-specific questionnaire addressing everyday functioning, psychological adaptation, social support, and treatment-related burden. Results: Mean (SD) Mental Component Summary score was 47.2 (9.3) points, while mean Physical Component Summary score was 40.2 (9.4) points. The highest SF-36 scores were observed for bodily pain and social functioning, whereas role limitations due to physical health problems and general health perceptions scored lowest. Despite persistent limitations in physically demanding activities and device-related discomfort, most participants reported preserved ability to perform several everyday activities (mean score, 3.4/5), strong family support (mean score, 4.6/5), and a sense of purpose (mean score, 4.4/5). Nevertheless, 6 patients (27.3%) reported initiation of antidepressant pharmacotherapy after LVAD implantation despite reporting no previous psychiatric care or psychiatric medication use. Conclusions: In this pilot cohort of patients living with an LVAD, persistent physical limitations coexisted with relatively favorable responses across several psychosocial domains. As survival after LVAD implantation continues to improve, routine assessment of health-related QoL and structured psychological evaluation should complement survival-based outcome assessment and become an integral component of comprehensive LVAD care.
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BibTeX
@article{sarosiek2026psychosocial,
title = {{Psychosocial functioning of patients after left ventricular assist device implantation as destination therapy for heart failure}},
author = {Anna Sarosiek and Michał Kulik and Paulina Tomsia and Izabela Górkiewicz-Kot and Grzegorz Wasilewski and Karol Wierzbicki and Irena Milaniak and Wojciech Płazak},
journal = {Przegląd Lekarski Jagiellonian Medical Review},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.20452/jmr.2026.20063},
url = {https://doi.org/10.20452/jmr.2026.20063},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Psychosocial functioning of patients after left ventricular assist device implantation as destination therapy for heart failure
AU - Anna Sarosiek
AU - Michał Kulik
AU - Paulina Tomsia
AU - Izabela Górkiewicz-Kot
AU - Grzegorz Wasilewski
AU - Karol Wierzbicki
AU - Irena Milaniak
AU - Wojciech Płazak
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/01
JO - Przegląd Lekarski Jagiellonian Medical Review
DO - 10.20452/jmr.2026.20063
UR - https://doi.org/10.20452/jmr.2026.20063
AB - Background: Although contemporary left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) have substantially improved survival in patients with advanced heart failure, data regarding health-related quality of life (QoL) and psychosocial adaptation, particularly among Polish patients receiving LVAD support, remain limited. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate health-related QoL, psychosocial adaptation, and selected aspects of everyday functioning of patients receiving long-term LVAD support as a destination therapy in a single clinical center in Poland. Methods: A total of 22 consecutive eligible patients with a HeartMate 3 LVAD implanted as destination therapy were enrolled during routine follow-up in this pilot, single-center, cross-sectional observational study. Health-related QoL was assessed using the validated Short Form-36 Health Survey (SF-36) and an investigator-developed LVAD-specific questionnaire addressing everyday functioning, psychological adaptation, social support, and treatment-related burden. Results: Mean (SD) Mental Component Summary score was 47.2 (9.3) points, while mean Physical Component Summary score was 40.2 (9.4) points. The highest SF-36 scores were observed for bodily pain and social functioning, whereas role limitations due to physical health problems and general health perceptions scored lowest. Despite persistent limitations in physically demanding activities and device-related discomfort, most participants reported preserved ability to perform several everyday activities (mean score, 3.4/5), strong family support (mean score, 4.6/5), and a sense of purpose (mean score, 4.4/5). Nevertheless, 6 patients (27.3%) reported initiation of antidepressant pharmacotherapy after LVAD implantation despite reporting no previous psychiatric care or psychiatric medication use. Conclusions: In this pilot cohort of patients living with an LVAD, persistent physical limitations coexisted with relatively favorable responses across several psychosocial domains. As survival after LVAD implantation continues to improve, routine assessment of health-related QoL and structured psychological evaluation should complement survival-based outcome assessment and become an integral component of comprehensive LVAD care.
SN - 3072-0036
ER -