Results
Predictors of increased risk for
ventricular arrhythmia and risk
score
A best-subset regression analysis in the CRT-D arm of the trial
identified 4 factors (from the 29 candidate covariates listed in Table A
in the online-only data supplement) as being associated with increased
risk for VTA (eTable B). These factors were blood urea nitrogen (BUN)
> 25 mg/dl, left ventricular ejection fraction <
20%, prior non sustained ventricular tachycardia (NSVT), and female
gender.
The baseline clinical characteristics of study patients by the presence
of VTA RF in CRT-D patients and the total ICD group are presented in
eTable C. Mean age of the study patients was 65 ± 10 years, and 10%
were female. Patients with ≥ 1 RF for VTA comprised 47% of the CRT-D
population, and had similar baseline characteristics as those without
RF, with the exception of a higher baseline creatinine, and a higher
frequency of diuretic use. Among the group of CRT-D patients with ≥ 1RF,
82% had only 1 RF, while 17 patients (17%) had two RF, and only two
patients (1%) had three RF.