Long-term follow-up of implantable cardioverter defibrillator patients with regard to appropriate therapy, complications, and mortality

• BackgroundAn implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) is recommended for patients with symptomatic heart failure with ejection fraction ≤35% despite optimal medical therapy. More recently, the benefits of ICDs have been questioned in nonischemic cardiomyopathy (CM).AimTo examine the incidence of appropriate therapy, complications, mortality, and cause of death among ICD patients in an unselected validated cohort. In primary prevention, appropriate therapy in ischemic versus nonischemic CM will be evaluated.MethodsA retrospective observational study of patients in Region Gävleborg, Sweden, who underwent ICD implantation or replacement between 2007 and 2017.ResultsIn total, 438 patients (mean age at implant: 65.9 ± 11.2 years, 82.0% males, mean follow‐up: 5.2 ± 4.0 years) were included. There were 108 (24.7%) deaths (49.1% due to heart failure) and 94.9% survived the first year. Cumulative incidence of appropriate therapy at 5‐year was 31.6%. Cumulative incidence of inappropriate shock at 5‐year was 9.1%. A total of 98 complications requiring surgical intervention occurred (annual rate: 4.3%). In total, 236 patients with primary prevention due to ischemic (61.9%) or nonischemic (38.1%) CM were included. During a mean follow‐up of 3.9 ± 2.5 years, for appropriate therapy, there was no significant difference (P = .985) between ischemic (cumulative incidence at 1, 3, and 5 years: 6.4%, 17.1%, and 19.6%) and nonischemic CM (cumulative incidence at 1, 3, and 5 years: 5.6%, 13.6%, and 24.4%).ConclusionIschemic and nonischemic CM confer similar risk of ventricular arrhythmia. This supports current guidelines regarding primary‐prevention ICD. Short‐term survival is excellent but complications remain a problem.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Kardiologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Cardiac and Cardiovascular Systems (hsv//eng)

Keyword

arrhythmia

cardiomyopathy

heart failure

implantable cardioverter-defibrillator

risk stratification

sudden death

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)