In a first-of-its-kind study, physicians were more likely to implant devices made by the company that paid them the most.
Financial associations between physicians and industry are common, and payments to physicians have been linked to a higher likelihood of prescribing brand-name drugs than generics. Whether payments and medical-device procedures are similarly associated has not previously been studied. In a straightforward and unique study, investigators analyzed data from the Open Payments Program and the National Cardiovascular Data Registry for possible correlations between payments from four device manufacturers and implantations of implantable cardioverter–defibrillators (ICDs) and cardiac resynchronization therapy–defibrillators (CRT-Ds).
Among 4435 physicians implanting ICDs or CRT-Ds in 145,900 patients, 94% received some payment from device manufactu…
Reviewing Author
DisclosuresEditorial BoardsCirculation; UpToDate
DisclosuresEditorial BoardsCirculation; UpToDate