The effect of enhanced external counterpulsation on anxiety and depression in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation: a randomized controlled trial

Objective This study aimed to investigate the effects of Enhanced External Counterpulsation (EECP) on anxiety and depression in patients with Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation (PAF).Methods A cohort of 100 patients diagnosed with PAF at the Fuzhou First Hospital between January 2023 and June 2024 were enrolled in this study. Patients were randomly assigned to either the control group (n = 50) or the EECP group (n = 50) in this randomized controlled trial. The control group received conventional antiarrhythmic therapy with beta-blockers or propafenone, and the EECP group underwent EECP therapy in conjunction with pharmacological treatment. The EECP therapy protocol consisted of 60-min sessions, conducted five times per week over a four-week period. Blood pressure, heart rate, cardiac ultrasound-related indexes, Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), and Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS) scores were compared between the two groups before and after treatment.Results After the intervention, the systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, LVEDD and LAD of the two groups decreased significantly compared to the pre-intervention period, the LVEF was higher than before intervention, and the systolic blood pressure, LVEF, LVEDD, and LAD of the EECP group were significantly better than those of the control group. Anxiety and depression indicators were lower in both groups than before the intervention, and scores in the EECP group were significantly lower than those in the control group, suggesting that EECP significantly improved anxiety and depression levels.Conclusion EECP, as a non-invasive treatment, is effective in improving anxiety and depression in patients with PAF.