title: Predictors of outcome in patients with implantable cardioverter defibrillators.
abstract: This study determined the impact of clinical characteristics on shock occurrence and survival in patients with implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD).
  
  
  RESULTS
  During a follow-up of 27 +/- 18 months, the actuarial incidence of appropriate shocks in 200 consecutive patients was 18, 36 and 72% at 1, 3, and 5 years, respectively. Coronary artery disease was the only significant predictor for shock occurrence (relative risk 1.32, p = 0.03). The actuarial incidence of total mortality was 10, 17 and 33% at 1, 3, and 5 years, respectively. The most powerful predictors for total mortality were: New York Heart Association functional class (NYHA) III (relative risk 4.8, p = 0.001) and a history of congestive cardiac failure (relative risk 3.6, p = 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  During long-term follow-up, the majority of patients receive appropriate shocks. No strong predictors for shock occurrence can be identified from the data analyzed. A history of congestive cardiac failure and the NYHA III are the most powerful predictors for total mortality. These clinical factors may provide valuable criteria to identify patients who will benefit from the implantation of ICD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, University of Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Anvari
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gottsauner-Wolf
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Türel
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Stix
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Podesser
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mayer
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Schuster
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Schmidinger
mesh_terms: D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000150:complications / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D001317:Austria / Q000453:epidemiology; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000401:mortality; D003643:Death; D017147:Defibrillators, Implantable; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000401:mortality; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014693:Ventricular Fibrillation / Q000401:mortality