Significance of psychosocial factors in cardiology: update 2018

Psychosocial Cardiological Schedule-Revised (PCS-R) in a Cardiac Rehabilitation Unit: Reflections Upon Data Collection (2010–2017) and New Challenges

“…We found a modest increment (nonsignificant) in the number of PCS-Yes in 2017 with respect to 2010 (32.2 vs. 42.2%). This data might outline an increased attention of healthcare professionals on the issues presented in the latest cardiac (Forman and Wenger, 2013;Piepoli et al, 2016;Jackson et al, 2017) and psychosocial guidelines and position papers (Pogosova et al, 2015;Sommaruga et al, 2018;Albus et al, 2019b).…”

“…After data collection and analysis, the original Italian version of the PCS (Pierobon et al, 2012) was modified and integrated (Supplementary Data Sheet S1) based on the results of the PCS data comparison, the evidence from the psychosocial literature about CV diseases (Pogosova et al, 2015;Sommaruga et al, 2018;Albus et al, 2019b), the scientific evidence about screening tools in CR (Jackson et al, 2017), and the most recent CR guidelines (Piepoli et al, 2016;Fattirolli et al, 2018). Besides, an English version of the revised PCS was prepared (Supplementary Data Sheet S2).…”

“…CR includes interventions to lower blood pressure and improve lipid and diabetes mellitus control, tobacco cessation, behavioral counseling, and graded physical activity ( Anderson and Taylor, 2014 ; Pogosova et al, 2015 ; Piepoli et al, 2016 ; Servey and Stephens, 2016 ; Albus et al, 2019a ; Long et al, 2019 ). Many CR guidelines and position statements recommend screening for psychosocial risk factors, although there is wide variation in the recommended factors and recommended screening tools ( Jackson et al, 2017 ; Sommaruga et al, 2018 ; Albus et al, 2019b ). National and European CV prevention and rehabilitation guidelines ( Pogosova et al, 2015 ; Griffo et al, 2016 ; Fattirolli et al, 2018 ) recommend multidisciplinary interventions involving nurses, physiotherapists, dieticians, and psychologists in collaboration with cardiologists.…”

“…The CR short-term goals are clinical stability, limitation of the physiological and psychological consequences of CV disease, and overall improvement of the patient’s functional capacity and degree of autonomy, independence, and quality of life. In CR, the psychologist’s specific contribution is to help identify and implement, through health and clinical psychology, adequate diagnostic-therapeutic pathways ( Pogosova et al, 2015 ; Richards et al, 2018 ; Sommaruga et al, 2018 ; Albus et al, 2019b ; Pedersen and Doyle, 2019 ).…”

The Monitoring of Psychosocial Factors During Hospitalization Before and After Cardiac Surgery Until Discharge From Cardiac Rehabilitation: A Research Protocol

“…According to these data, it is advisable to systematically evaluate both the psychosocial aspects and the cognitive function of all patients as a part of routine clinical assessment. In all cases where critical values emerge from the evaluation, continuing psychosocial and psychotherapeutic interventions and/or psychopharmacological interventions should be carried out since the clinical evidence has shown that such interventions are positive for the prognosis of patients suffering from CHD, chronic heart failure, arterial hypertension, and some arrhythmias (Albus et al, 2019).…”