title: The implantable cardioverter-defibrillator: postcode prescribing in the UK 1998-2002.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the rate of implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) implantation across the UK during the period 1998 to 2002.
  
  
  METHODS
  Observational self reporting with cross checking.
  
  
  METHODS
  All ICD implanting centres coordinated by the National Pacemaker and ICD Database.
  
  
  METHODS
  Every patient receiving an ICD in the UK from 1998 to 2002.
  
  
  METHODS
  Date of implantation and postcode of each ICD recipient during the study period.
  
  
  RESULTS
  ICD implantation increased in the UK in the five year period studied but fell far short of the European average and national targets. Implantation rates varied greatly by region.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The low rate of ICD implantation in the UK and the disparity between regions require further study to determine the barriers to this evidence based treatment.
authors.affiliation: National Pacemaker and ICD Database, UK. david@ccad.nildram.co.uk
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Cunningham
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Plummer
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: McComb
authors.forename: S W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Lord
authors.forename: M W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Cunningham
authors.forename: J-M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Toussaint
authors.forename: A F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Rickards
mesh_terms: D017147:Defibrillators, Implantable / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D019919:Prosthesis Implantation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000639:trends; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D006113:United Kingdom