Physiological and Psychological Changes in Patients Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: An Integrative Review

BACKGROUND: Percutaneous coronary intervention has been the main percutaneous method of myocardial revascularization used in all clinical scenarios, but patients undergoing these procedures may experience negative physiological and psychological changes. OBJECTIVE: To identify the physiological and psychological changes experienced by patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention. METHODS: This integrative review was carried out through a search for primary studies included in the PubMed, Web of Science, CINAHL (Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature), LILACS (Latin America and the Caribbean Literature on Health Sciences), and Embase databases in February 2023. No publication time frame was delimited, and articles in English, Portuguese, and Spanish were considered. RESULTS: Of the 889 studies initially identified in the search, 20 made up the final sample. The majority (n = 13) of the included studies predominantly assessed psychological changes after percutaneous coronary intervention, with follow-up periods ranging from 6 months to 1 year. A few studies (n = 6) explored physiological changes among patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention, and 1 study investigated the prevalence of depression and anxiety in patients with coronary heart disease in 24 European countries. The main psychological changes found after percutaneous coronary intervention were increased anxiety and depression. Anxiety and depression levels were reduced at long-term follow-up. Physiological changes included fatigue, shortness of breath, and chest discomfort. CONCLUSION: The results of this review show an urgent need for health care professionals to better assess patients' psychological state and employ strategies aimed at providing comprehensive care.