Prevalence of appropriate cardioverter-defibrillator shocks in 1038 consecutive patients with implantable cardioverter-defibrillators.
During a 33-month follow-up of 1038 consecutive patients who had implantable cardioverter-defibrillators, appropriate shocks occurred in 329 of 1038 patients (32%). Appropriate shocks occurred in 101 of 380 patients (27%) treated with beta-adrenergic blockers alone; in 31 of 95 patients (33%) treated with amiodarone alone; in 39 of 149 patients (26%) treated with beta-blockers plus amiodarone; in 11 of 28 patients (39%) treated with sotalol alone; and in 147 of 386 patients (38%) treated with no beta-blockers, amiodarone, or sotalol (P < 0.001 comparing patients treated with beta-adrenergic blockers alone with patients treated with no beta-blockers, amiodarone, or sotalol; and P < 0.01 comparing patients treated with beta-blockers plus amiodarone with patients treated with no beta-blockers, amiodarone, or sotalol). In conclusion, patients having implantable cardioverter-defibrillators should also be treated with beta-adrenergic blockers to reduce the frequency of appropriate shocks.
Kruger
Adam
A
Department of Medicine, Cardiology Division, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY 10595, USA.
Aronow
Wilbert S
WS
Lai
Hoang
H
Desai
Harit
H
Singla
Atul
A
Frishman
William H
WH
Cohen
Martin
M
Sorbera
Carmine
C
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000638:Amiodarone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017147:Defibrillators, Implantable; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004554:Electric Countershock / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000295:instrumentation; D004868:Equipment Failure; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012737:Sex Factors; D013015:Sotalol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; D013015:Sotalol; D000638:Amiodarone