Influence of DDD rate response pacing with integrated double sensors on physical efficiency and quality of life.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the use of a double sensor gives additional benefits for patients in improving physical efficiency as well as quality of life (QoL) as compared to the accelerometer sensor alone.


RESULTS
The presented research is a prospective, randomized, single-blind clinical trial. Double-sensor (accelerometer and minute-ventilation) pacemakers (Guidant, Pulsar Max DR) were implanted in 20 patients with sinus node dysfunction (SND) and chronotropic incompetence. After randomization, patients were placed in one of two groups: 1, only the accelerometer sensor was activated; 2, both sensors were activated. After a 3-month follow-up, an initial cardio-pulmonary exercise test was performed, after which the patients were placed in the opposite group for a further 3 months. Finally, the second tests were performed. In 75% of the patients an improvement in QoL was observed in the double-sensor group (P = 0.0242) when compared with the single-sensor group. The addition of a ventilating sensor had no influence on the duration of exercise test (A: 11 +/- 3.19 vs. B: 11 +/- 2.92 P = 1.0000). The parameters of cardio-pulmonary exercise tests recorded in situations A and B before exertion, and 6 minutes after exertion were not statistically different.


CONCLUSIONS
The use of double-sensor pacemakers does not improve physical efficiency; however, it does improve QoL.
Pilat
Eugeniusz
E
Department of Electrocardiology, Upper-Silesian Cardiology Center, The Medical University of Silesia, ul. Ziolowa 45/47, Katowice 40-635, Poland.
Mlynarski
Rafal
R
Wlodyka
Agnieszka
A
Kargul
Wlodzimierz
W
D000054:Acceleration; D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018670:Monitoring, Ambulatory / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D011788:Quality of Life; D016037:Single-Blind Method; D018511:Systems Integration; D014159:Transducers