ICDs as Prophylaxis in Patients with Cardiomyopathy?

Implantable cardioverter-defibrillators reduce mortality — in specific patient populations.

Based on the DANISH study (NEJM JW Cardiol Oct 2016 and N Engl J Med 2016; 375:1221), some cardiologists have questioned the benefit of implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) for primary prevention in both nonischemic and ischemic cardiomyopathies (CMs). To learn more, researchers performed a meta-analysis using 11 randomized, controlled trials (4 on 1781 patients with nonischemic CM; 6 on 4414 patients with ischemic CM; 1 on 2521 patients with either disease type).

The mean left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was 26%; almost all patients had New York Heart Association heart failure class II or III. Compared with conventional care, ICDs were associated with reduced all-cause mortality overall (hazard ratio [HR], 0.81); this eff…

Reviewing Author

Mark S. Link, MD

Disclosures

Editorial BoardsCirculation; UpToDate

Mark S. Link, MD

Disclosures

Editorial BoardsCirculation; UpToDate

ICDs as Prophylaxis in Patients with Cardiomyopathy?

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Reviewing Author