New Data Presented at ESC Congress 2019 Supports ICD Use

This study investigated the association between ICD use and all-cause mortality in a contemporary reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) cohort with a focus on subgroups. The study population was compiled from patients in the Swedish Heart Failure Registry (SwedeHF) fulfilling ESC criteria for primary prevention ICD use. Propensity score matching was used to account for differences at baseline. In a release principal investigator Dr. Benedikt Schrage of the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden said: “Most randomized trials on ICD use for primary prevention of sudden cardiac death in HFrEF enrolled patients more than 20 years ago. However, characteristics and management of HFrEF have substantially changed since then and it is not known whether ICD improves outcomes on top of contemporary treatments. Furthermore, it is unclear whether ICD use is equally beneficial in subgroups such as both women and men or older and younger patients.” Results pointed out that of 16,702 eligible patients in SwedeHF registry, 1,599 (9.6%) had an ICD. “Among patients from SwedeHF fulfilling ESC criteria for primary prevention ICD use, less than 10% had the device,” Dr. Schrage said in the release. “ICD use in Sweden is known to be lower than in other European countries (e.g. Germany or Italy). This could be because most heart failure patients are seen by primary care physicians and geriatricians who could be ...
Source: MDDI - Category: Medical Devices Authors: Tags: Cardiovascular Source Type: news