Incidence of VA in the study population
As depicted in Figure 1, the final cohort consist of 455 patients; mean
age was 64.9 ± 15.7 years. 24.3% of them were females . Table 1
presents patients characteristics. More frequent etiologies of heart
diseases leading to implant were ischemic heart disease (40.2%),
dilated non-ischemic cardiomyopathy (32.5%), hypertrophic
cardiomyopathy (9.2%), Brugada syndrome (3.5%) and arrhythmogenic
right ventricular cardiomyopathy/dysplasia (1.2%).
Among study population, 163 patients (35.8%) had single chamber ICD, 75
(16.5%) had a dual chamber ICD, 37 (8.1%) a subcutaneous ICD and 180
patients (39.6%) had a CRTD implanted.
Most of patients received a defibrillator for primary prevention (358
patients – 79.2%). Device settings were variably programmed, with 205
(45.4%) with an enabled monitor zone (mean cut-off value 156.2 ± 13.68
beats per minute - bpm), 18.4 % with a VT zone (mean cut-off value
182.7 ± 20.9 bpm) and 100% having a VF zone (mean cut-off value 206.6 ±
15.8 bpm).
Within the study cohort 89 patients (19.6%) had previous history of
device therapy, either ATP or shocks. A vast majority of patients take
beta-blockers as medication (see table 1).
Overall, 45 (9.9%) patients experienced from February
21st to April 5th 2020, a total of
86 VA: 77 episodes (89.5 %) of VTs, 9 (10.5%) VF. 8 patients (1,7 %)
required ATP and 6 (1.3%) at least one shock during the study period.
(see Table 1 and Figure 2)
— Figure 2 —
During reference timeframe - February 21st to April
5th 2019 - the number of events was 69 VA, experienced
by 36 patients (7.9%): 64 episodes (92.7 %) of VTs, 5 (7.2%) VF. 6
patients (1.3%) required ATP and 3 (0.7%) at least one shock during
the study period.
— Table 1 —