Depression and Implantable Cardioverter‐Defibrillator Implantation in Black Patients at Risk for Sudden Cardiac Death

Abstract

Background Black patients meeting indications for implantable cardioverter‐defibrillators (ICDs) have lower rates of implantation compared with White patients. There is little understanding of how mental health impacts the decision‐making process among Black patients considering ICDs. Our objective was to assess the association between depressive symptoms and ICD implantation among Black patients with heart failure. Methods and Results This is a secondary analysis of the VIVID (Videos to Address Racial Disparities in ICD Therapy via Innovative Designs) randomized trial, which enrolled self‐identified Black individuals with chronic systolic heart failure. Depressive symptoms were assessed by the Patient Health Questionnaire‐2 and the Mental Component Summary of the 12‐Item Short‐Form Health Survey. Decisional conflict was measured by an adapted Decisional Conflict Scale (DCS). ANCOVA was used to assess differences in Decisional Conflict Scale scores. Multivariable logistic regression was used to examine the association between depressive symptoms and ICD implantation. Among 306 participants, 60 (19.6%) reported depressed mood, and 142 (46.4%) reported anhedonia. Participants with the lowest Mental Component Summary of the 12‐Item Short‐Form Health Survey scores (poorer mental health and higher likelihood of depression) had greater decisional conflict regarding ICD implantation compared with those with the highest Mental Component Summary of the 12‐Item Short‐Form Health Survey scores (adjusted mean difference in Decisional Conflict Scale score, 3.2 [95% CI, 0.5–5.9]). By 90‐day follow‐up, 202 (66.0%) participants underwent ICD implantation. There was no association between either the Patient Health Questionnaire‐2 score or the Mental Component Summary of the 12‐Item Short‐Form Health Survey score and ICD implantation. Conclusions Depressed mood and anhedonia were prevalent among ambulatory Black patients with chronic systolic heart failure considering ICD implantation. The presence of depressive symptoms did not impact the likelihood of ICD implantation in this population.