title: The European cardiac resynchronization therapy survey.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The European cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) survey is a joint initiative taken by the Heart Failure Association and the European Heart Rhythm Association of the European Society of Cardiology. The primary aim of this survey is to describe current European practice associated with CRT implantations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 140 centres from 13 European countries contributed data from consecutive patients successfully implanted with a CRT device with or without an ICD between November 2008 and June 2009. The total number of patients enrolled was 2438. The median age of the patients was 70 years (IQR 62-76) and 31% were > or =75 years. It was found that 78% were in NYHA functional class III or IV and 22% in I or II. The mean ejection fraction was 27% +/- 8 and the mean QRS duration 157 ms +/- 32. The QRS duration was <120 ms in 9%. Atrial fibrillation was reported in 23%. It was found that 26% of patients had a previously implanted permanent pacemaker or ICD; 76% of procedures were performed by an electrophysiologist; 82% had an elective admission for implantation and the median duration of hospitalization was 3 days (IQR 2-7); and 73% received a CRT-D device which was more often implanted in men, younger patients, and with ischaemic aetiology. The mean QRS duration was reduced to 133 ms +/- 27 (P < 0.0001) at discharge. Peri-procedural complication rates were comparable to the rates reported in randomized trials.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This CRT survey provides important information describing current European practice with regard to patient demographics, selection criteria, procedural routines, and status at discharge. These data should be useful for benchmarking individual patient management and national practice against wider experience.
authors.affiliation: Stavanger University Hospital, Stavanger, Norway.
authors.forename: Kenneth
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Dickstein
authors.forename: Nigussie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bogale
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Priori
authors.forename: Angelo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Auricchio
authors.forename: John G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Cleland
authors.forename: Anselm
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gitt
authors.forename: Tobias
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Limbourg
authors.forename: Cecilia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Linde
authors.forename: Dirk J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: van Veldhuisen
authors.forename: Josep
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Brugada
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002304:Cardiac Pacing, Artificial; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000150:complications; D010138:Pacemaker, Artificial; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic