Design and results of the antiarrhythmics vs implantable defibrillators (AVID) registry. The AVID Investigators.
BACKGROUND
The Antiarrhythmics Versus Implantable Defibrillators (AVID) Study compared treatment with implantable cardioverter-defibrillators versus antiarrhythmic drugs in patients with life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias (VAs). AVID maintained a Registry on all patients, randomized or not, with any VA or unexplained syncope who could be considered for either of the treatment strategies. Trial-eligible arrhythmias were the categories of VF cardiac arrest, Syncopal VT, and Symptomatic VT, below.


RESULTS
Of 5989 patients screened, 4595 were registered and 1016 were randomized. Mortality follow-up through 1996 was obtained on the 4219 Registry patients enrolled before 1997 through the National Death Index. Crude mortality rates (mean+/-SD, follow-up, 16.9+/-11.5 months) were: VF cardiac arrest, 17.0% (n=1399, 238 deaths); Syncopal VT, 21.2% (n=598, 127 deaths); Symptomatic VT, 15.8% (n=1065, 168 deaths); Stable (asymptomatic) VT, 19.7% (n=497, 98 deaths); VT/VF with transient/correctable cause, 17.8% (n=270, 48 deaths); and Unexplained syncope, 12.3% (n=390, 48 deaths).


CONCLUSIONS
Patients with seemingly lower-risk or unknown-risk VAs (asymptomatic VT, and VT/VF associated with a transient factor) have a (high) mortality similar to that of higher-risk, AVID-eligible VAs. The similar (and poor) prognosis of most patients with VT/VF suggests the need for reevaluation of a priori risk grouping and raises the question of the appropriate arrhythmia therapy for a broad range of patients.
Anderson
J L
JL
University of Washington, Seattle, USA.
Hallstrom
A P
AP
Epstein
A E
AE
Pinski
S L
SL
Rosenberg
Y
Y
Nora
M O
MO
Chilson
D
D
Cannom
D S
DS
Moore
R
R
D000368:Aged; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D017147:Defibrillators, Implantable; D003710:Demography; D004608:Eligibility Determination; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012042:Registries; D015996:Survival Rate; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D018754:Ventricular Dysfunction / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*
D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents