Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To explore the impact of music on anxiety, procedure quality, and overall experience during MPI. PATIENTS AND METHODS: At Farshchian heart center in Hamadan, Iran, 120 patients undergoing SPECT MPI were randomly assigned to either a music intervention group, (calming classical music) or a control group (standard care). Metrics like anxiety levels, exercise performance parameters, non-cardiac dipyridamole side effects, imaging quality, and patient satisfaction were evaluated. RESULTS: The study found that the music intervention group exhibited significantly improved exercise duration (12.15 ± 2.70 vs. 10.73 ± 2.48 min, P = 0.015) and greater distance covered (1010.22 ± 314.06 vs. 802.22 ± 270.49 m, P < 0.05). Autonomic nervous system markers, including the Chronotropic index (0.727 ± 0.2 vs. 0.602 ± 0.17, P = 0.003) and heart rate recovery index (31.92 ± 10.56 vs. 19.65 ± 5.39, P = 0.001), were better in the music group. Myocardial oxygen consumption, reflected by the double product, was higher (21558 ± 17557 vs. 15892 ± 4297, P = 0.048). The music group experienced fewer dipyridamole side effects, including headache, dizziness, chest pain, and flushing. Fewer repeated acquisitions and inadequate gating windows were shown with music. Post-procedure, the music group had reduced anxiety and depression scores (anxiety: 5.45 ± 3.36 to 5.7 ± 3.68; depression: 5.8 ± 3.41 to 4.02 ± 3.5), unlike the control group. Satisfaction was significantly higher with music. CONCLUSION: Integrating music into MPI alleviates anxiety, improves exercise performance, mitigates non-cardiac dipyridamole side effects. Music greatly improves nuclear medicine practices and patient care quality.