title: Prevention of sudden cardiac death: a probabilistic model for decision support.
abstract: As part of the Cardiac Arrhythmia and Risk of Death Patient Outcomes Research Team (CARD PORT) study we are developing a comprehensive decision model to help physicians identify preferred strategies for preventing sudden cardiac death. The model integrates three components: a screening model, a treatment model, and a value model. Ultimately this model will use the CARD PORT's collective findings to produce policy recommendations and will support patient-specific clinical decision making. Our initial modeling suggests the importance of patient-specific value models in an analysis of treatment options. Although our model is specific to cardiac sudden death, other medical domains that exhibit similar characteristics--the importance of patient preferences and the uncertainty regarding the benefits of strategies for risk stratification and treatment--can use a conceptual framework similar to the approach we used to represent strategies to prevent sudden cardiac death.
authors.affiliation: Section of General Internal Medicine, Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Palo Alto, California, USA.
authors.forename: G D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Sanders
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Hlatky
authors.forename: D K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Owens
mesh_terms: D016757:Death, Sudden, Cardiac / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003658:Decision Making, Computer-Assisted; D003661:Decision Support Techniques; D006801:Humans; D011336:Probability; D013813:Therapy, Computer-Assisted