Personality traits, ventricular tachyarrhythmias, and mortality in patients with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator: 6 years follow-up of the WEBCARE cohort

Abstract Objective Risk stratification within the ICD population warrants the examining of the role of protective- and risk factors. Current study examines the association between Type D personality, pessimism, and optimism and risk of ventricular tachyarrhythmias (VTa's) and mortality in patients with a first-time ICD 6 years post implantation. Methods A total of 221 first-implant ICD patients completed questionnaires on optimism and pessimism (Life Orientation Test) and Type D personality (Type D scale DS14) 10 to 14 days after implantation. VTa's and all-cause mortality 6 years post implant comprised the study endpoints. Results Ninety (40.7%) patients had experienced VTa's and 37 (16.7%) patients died, 12 (5.4%) due to a cardiac cause. Adjusted logistic regression analysis showed that pessimism was significantly associated with increased risk of VTa's (OR = 1.09; 95% CI = 1.00–1.19; p = .05). Type D personality (OR = 1.05; 95% CI = 0.47–2.32; p = .91) and optimism (OR = 1.00; 95% CI = 0.90–1.12; p = .98) were not associated with VTa's. None of the personality types were associated with mortality. Conclusion Pessimism was associated with VTa's but not with mortality. No significant association with either of the endpoints was observed for Type D personality and optimism. Future research should focus on the coexistent psychosocial factors that possibly lead to adverse cardiac prognosis in this patient population.