Dynamics of emotional state of patients with cardiac rhythm disorders in the hospital during fast track radiofrequency ablation

Relevance. The psychological status and emotional state of patients suffering from heart rhythm disorders play an important role in the course of the pre- and postoperative period, whereby psychological effects of the fast-track approach in cardiac surgery, in contrast to clinical effects, are insufficiently studied.

Aim: To investigate the dynamics of patients’ emotional state (severity of anxiety, depression and stress symptoms) in the perioperative period during fast track radiofrequency ablation (RFA), as well as to compare it with the normative values.

Material and Methods. The sample consisted of 77 patients with heart rhythm disorders (mean age 57.09 ± 13.606; 44.2% male) hospitalised for RFA; psychodiagnostic questionnaires DASS-21 and PSS-10 were used.

Results. It was found that preoperative anxiety (from moderate to very high) was observed in 57.9% of patients, symptoms of emotional distress – in 34.2%, symptoms of depression – in 18.4%; at the same time symptoms of anxiety and stress before RFA significantly exceeded the normative values (p ≤ 0.001). After RFA, pronounced symptoms of anxiety are observed in 44.7% of patients, stress – in 26.9%, depression – in 13.5% of patients; postoperative anxiety and stress symptoms also exceed the normative values (p ≤ 0.001). No statistically significant dynamics of unfavourable emotional indicators after RFA was revealed, only a decrease in emotional stress was noted, at the level of statistical trend (p < 0.1).

Conclusion. It is expedient to carry out a more differentiated study of the emotional state of patients undergoing RFA on an expanded sample. Psychological interventions aimed at providing support are recommended for patients with heart rhythm disorders in the perioperative period due to the high stressfulness of the surgical intervention and patients’ emotional instability.

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