Evaluation of the effectiveness of a wearable cardioverter defibrillator detection algorithm.
BACKGROUND
Wearable cardioverter defibrillators (WCDs) provide protection from sudden cardiac death. The efficacy of a WCD detection algorithm has not been reported outside of clinical trial.


METHODS
The efficacy of the algorithm was reviewed through a retrospective analysis of appropriate shocks, inappropriate shocks, and arrhythmia detections during a 1-year period.


RESULTS
WCD patients had an appropriate shock rate of 1.58 per 100 patient-months and an inappropriate shock rate of 0.99 per 100 patient-months. Most of the arrhythmia detections in a 3-month period were short in length, with only 2.7% of the detections lasting over 25 seconds, the time at which a shock becomes possible.


CONCLUSIONS
By incorporating a patient responsiveness test, as well as features that eliminate or reduce signal interference common to external electrocardiogram electrodes, the WCD detection algorithm has a low risk of inappropriate shocks.
Dillon
Katie A
KA
ZOLL Lifecor Corporation, Pittsburgh, PA, USA. dillon.katie@gmail.com
Szymkiewicz
Steven J
SJ
Kaib
Thomas E
TE
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000465:Algorithms; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002648:Child; D017076:Computer-Aided Design; D003936:Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D004554:Electric Countershock / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D015716:Electrocardiography, Ambulatory / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013813:Therapy, Computer-Assisted / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult