[Alprazolam use improves psychological status and reduces hospitalization costs in patients with paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia underwent radiofrequency catheter ablation]

Author(s): Zhu YJ, Liu ZY, Chen Y, Zheng P, Zhu JH, Tao QM, Zheng LR, Wang QQ, Shi MJ, Qiu YG

Affiliation(s): Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310003, China.

Publication date & source: 2007-10, Zhonghua Xin Xue Guan Bing Za Zhi., 35(10):919-22.

Publication type: English Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of alprazolam use on psychological status and hospitalization cost in patient with paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia underwent electrophysiology studies or radiofrequency catheter ablation. METHODS: In this prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, 142 inpatients [77 males, mean age (43.1 +/- 14.5) years] were randomly assigned to receive alprazolam (0.4 mg qd at 10PM for 3 days, n = 72) or placebo (n = 70) 3 days before scheduled electrophysiology studies or radiofrequency catheter ablation. All patients were examined by the Chinese version of Symptom Checklist-90 (SCL-90) at 24 hours before the procedure. RESULTS: Compared with the placebo group, the scores of somatization (1.38 +/- 0.40 vs. 1.65 +/- 0.56, P < 0.01), anxiety (1.50 +/- 0.39 vs. 1.69 +/- 0.50, P < 0.05), phobic anxiety (1.24 +/- 0.36 vs. 1.47 +/- 0.57, P < 0.01), psychotism constructs (1.24 +/- 0.34 vs. 1.35 +/- 0.30, P < 0.05) and global severity index (1.36 +/- 0.35 vs. 1.49 +/- 0.37, P < 0.05) were significantly decreased in alprazolam group. The hospitalization costs were also significantly lower in alprazolam group (32 498 +/- 1170) yuan compared to placebo group (32 947 +/- 1096) yuan, P < 0.05. CONCLUSION: The alprazolam use before electrophysiology studies and radiofrequency catheter ablation can improve the patients' psychological status and reduce the hospitalization costs.