Time to revisit implantable cardioverter-defibrillator implantation criteria in women

Implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) used in the primary prevention setting have been shown to prevent sudden cardiac death (SCD) and reduce total mortality. However, the evidence supporting guideline recommendations for the ICD dates from the late 1990s and early 2000s. With improvements in pharmacological and device therapy, earlier and more aggressive cardiovascular prevention, and prompt coronary intervention, there has been a gradual and substantial reduction in SCD risk over the last two decades in patients with heart failure,1 limiting the absolute benefit of the ICD and increasing the number needed to treat to save one life. One may even reasonably speculate whether the results of ICD randomized trials would be the same if conducted in the current era of heart failure management.
Source: European Heart Journal - Category: Cardiology Source Type: research