Understand the Risks of Anxiety in Patients with ICDs

Type-D patients who have ICDs and experience anxiety have a higher risk of arrhythmias, according to a recent study.

Published: January 8, 2010

Heart patients who receive an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) to help maintain a steady and healthy heart rhythm may find themselves at a higher risk of actually developing ventricular arrhythmias if they have a type D personality and suffer from anxiety. In a study published in the July 29 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, anxious ICD patients with a Type D personality had a significantly increased rate of ventricular arrhythmias (29.6 percent), compared to other ICD patients (16.9 percent).