Capsule commentary on Al-Khatib et al., Future research prioritization : implantable cardioverter defibrillator therapy in older patients

Abstract

I mplantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) have been consistently shown to reduce mortality rates in patients who survive ventricular arrhythmias or cardiac arrest (secondary prevention). In primary prevention of sudden cardiac death (SCD), the use of an ICD is recommended in selected patients with systolic heart failure (ischemic or non-ischemic cardiomyopathy with New York Heart Association [NYHA] functional class II or III and left ventricular eject fraction [LVEF]≤35 %, or post-ischemic heart disease with NYHA class I and LVEF≤30 %), receiving optimal medical therapy and with life expectancy of more than 1 year.