Health-related quality of life and arrhythmic risk in patients with Brugada syndrome
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.20883/medical.e1656Keywords:
Brugada syndrome, SF-36, quality of life, HRQoL, arrhythmic riskAbstract
Background. Brugada syndrome (BrS) is associated with an elevated risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD). This study investigated health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among patients with BrS and examined whether clinical features and indicators of arrhythmic risk are related to patient-reported well-being.
Methods. The study included 70 patients who were divided into three groups: spontaneous or sodium channel blocker test (SCBT) induced type 1 BrS electrocardiogram pattern (T1BrP), patients with negative SCBT, and control group. All patients completed the Short Form Health Survey version 2 (SF-36v2) questionnaire and underwent detailed SCD risk stratification.
Results. The HRQoL of patients with T1BrP (median Modified Shanghai score was 4 [3.5–4.5], median Sieira score = 1 [0–2] points) did not differ compared with those with negative SCBT. In patients with T1BrP the Sieira score correlated with a poorer self-assessment of health (p = 0.014, R = 0.50), increased limitations in lifting or carrying groceries (p = 0.004, R = -0.57) and a stronger disagreement with the statement that they are as healthy as anybody they know (p = 0.019, R = 0.48). Moreover, Sieira score correlated negatively with Physical Functioning scale score (p = 0.025, R = -0.47). Among patients with T1BrP, those who experienced syncope, showed lower scores on the General Health scale compared to the remainder (51 [27–57] vs. 67 [57–82] points, p = 0.032).
Conclusions. The diagnosis of BrS, especially among patients at low risk of SCD, does not significantly affect HRQoL. However, patients with T1BrP and higher clinical risk tend to feel less healthy and more limited in their daily lives.
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