title: Primary prevention of sudden cardiac death in heart failure: will the solution be shocking?
abstract: Sudden cardiac death (SCD) may occur in as many as 40% of all patients who suffer from heart failure. This review describes the scope of the problem, risk factors for SCD, the effect of medications used in heart failure on SCD and the potential effect of the implantable cardioverter-defibrillator in primary prevention.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, 77555-0553, USA. buretsky@utmb.edu
authors.forename: B F
authors.initials: BF
authors.lastname: Uretsky
authors.forename: R G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Sheahan
mesh_terms: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016757:Death, Sudden, Cardiac / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D017147:Defibrillators, Implantable; D004077:Digoxin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004232:Diuretics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D004232:Diuretics; D004077:Digoxin