title: Safety and effectiveness of primary prevention cardioverter defibrillators in octogenarians.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) reduce the rate of sudden cardiac death (SCD) in patients with cardiomyopathy and reduced left ventricular systolic function. It is unclear if this benefit extends to the very elderly patient population.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients who underwent initial ICD implantation at age 80 or older between January 1995 and April 2010 for primary SCD prevention were identified. Clinical data were collected from the medical record, including periprocedural complications, device type, and therapies delivered.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three-hundred eighty patients were identified; 84 patients met eligibility criteria. The mean age was 82.68 years; mean follow-up was 34 months. Mean left ventricular ejection fraction was 28.1%. Mortality during follow-up was 17.9%. One- and 5-year survival estimates were 100% and 60%, respectively. Periprocedural complications occurred in 9.4% of patients; serious complications occurred in 4.8% with no periprocedural deaths. Device therapies occurred in 11.9% (n = 10) of patients (9.5% appropriate, n = 8; 2.4% inappropriate, n = 2). Cardiac resynchronization therapy-defibrillator (CRT-D) implantation was associated with prolonged median survival and decreased risk of death (hazard ratio 0.212; 95% confidence interval 0.048-.942, P = 0.042) compared to ICD alone.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Implantation of primary prevention ICDs in patients 80 years of age or older was associated with a low risk of serious complications and a 5-year survival estimate of 60%. Inappropriate therapies after implantation were uncommon. CRT-D implantation was associated with a decreased risk of death compared to ICD alone. These data suggest that, in selected patients in this age group, ICD implantation is safe and effective.
authors: Section of Cardiac Electrophysiology and Pacing, Division of Cardiology, Texas A&M University Health Science Center, College of Medicine, Temple, Texas, USA.
authors: William
authors: W
authors: Strimel
authors: Sheri
authors: S
authors: Koplik
authors: H Robert
authors: HR
authors: Chen
authors: Juhee
authors: J
authors: Song
authors: Shoei K Stephen
authors: SK
authors: Huang
mesh_terms: D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016757:Death, Sudden, Cardiac / Q000517:prevention & control*; D017147:Defibrillators, Implantable / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011322:Primary Prevention; D012189:Retrospective Studies