• Tommaso Sanna, Francesco Fedele, Igino Genuini, Andrea Puglisi, Paolo Azzolini, Giuliano Altamura, Francesco Lobianco, Matteo Ruzzolini, Francesco Perna, Mirco Micò, Giancarlo Roscio, Pierluigi Mottironi, Carlo Saraceni, Michele Pistolese, and Fulvio Bellocci.
• Institute of Cardiology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy. tommaso.sanna@rm.unicatt.it
• Am. Heart J. 2006 Oct 1; 152 (4): 685.e1-7.

BackgroundOut-of-hospital cardiac arrest occurs at home in 65-80% of cases and is often witnessed. We designed a study to explore the feasibility of a home defibrillation program (a) evaluating the retention of cardiopulmonary resuscitation and automated external defibrillators (AED) use skills (BLSD) (b) assessing the impact on anxiety, depression, and quality of life and (c) recording the critical issues emerging from program implementation.MethodsThirty-three post-myocardial infarction patients and their 56 relatives received BLSD training and an AED. Assessment of BLSD skills, levels of anxiety, and depression and quality of life were scheduled every 3 months for 1 year or until a common stopping date.ResultsOverall BLSD score was 26 +/- 3 at baseline vs. 22 +/- 5 at 3 months (P < .0001), 21 +/- 6 at 6 months (P < .0001), 22 +/- 4 at 9 months (P < .0001) and 23 +/- 5 at 12 months (P = .001). Conversely, the BLSD component AED use" remained stable throughout the study. Quality of life, anxiety, and depression scores remained constant. Compliance to BLSD retraining sessions and AEDs checks decreased over time and was influenced by a concomitant clinical appointment.ConclusionsBLSD performance of families of post-myocardial infarction patients decreases over time, even though the ability to operate AEDs appears to be the least affected component. Compliance with retraining sessions and AED checks declines over time and is improved if they are combined with clinical appointments. The implementation of a home defibrillation program does not affect anxiety, depression, or the quality of life.

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