Association between psychosocial factors and left ventricular assist device implant outcomes: A systematic review

Background: Psychosocial assessment is a core component of the multidisciplinary evaluation for left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation. The degree to which psychosocial conditions are considered a contraindication to LVAD implantation continues to be debated. This systematic review examines modifiable psychosocial factors as predictors of outcomes in patients undergoing LVAD implantation.

Methods: We conducted a systematic review following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guideline. The search resulted in 2509 articles. After deduplication, abstract and full-text review, 20 relevant articles were identified.

Results: Included studies evaluated socioeconomic status (n = 6), caregiver characteristics (n = 6), non-adherence (n = 6), substance use (n = 13), and psychiatric disorder (n = 8). The most commonly measured outcomes were all-cause death, readmission rate, and adverse events. Studies varied widely in definition of each psychosocial factor and selected outcomes. No psychosocial factor was consistently associated with a specific outcome in all studies. Socioeconomic status was generally not associated with outcomes. Non-adherence, psychiatric disorder, and substance use were associated with higher risks of mortality, adverse events, and/or readmission. Findings on caregiver characteristics were mixed.

Conclusion: Of the psychosocial factors studied, non-adherence, psychiatric disorder, and substance use were the most consistently associated with an increased risk of mortality, readmission, and/or adverse events. Heterogeneity in research methodology and study quality across studies precludes firm conclusions regarding the impact of psychosocial factors on long-term patient outcomes. The results of this review reveal a need for adequately powered studies that use uniform definitions of psychosocial factors to clarify relationships between these factors and outcomes after LVAD implantation.