title: Are patients with cardiac implants protected against electromagnetic interference in daily life and occupational environment?
abstract: Utilization of cardiac implants such as pacemakers and implantable cardioverter defibrillators is now commonplace among heart disease patients. The ever-increasing technological complexity of these devices is matched by the near omnipresent exposure to electric, magnetic, and electromagnetic fields (EMFs), both in everyday life and the occupational environment. Given that electromagnetic interferences (EMIs) are associated with potential risk in device patients, physicians are increasingly confronted with managing device patients with intermittent EMI and chronic occupational exposure. The current review aims to provide a contemporary overview of cardiovascular implantable electronic devices, their function and susceptibility of non-medical EMFs and provide recommendations for physicians caring for cardiac device patients presenting with EMI.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine I (Cardiology, Angiology, Pneumology and Internal Intensive Care Medicine), University Hospital, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstrasse 30, Aachen 52074, Germany anapp@ukaachen.de.
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Napp
authors.affiliation: Research Center for Bioelectromagnetic Interaction, Institute of Occupational Medicine, University Hospital, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany.
authors.forename: Dominik
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Stunder
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Melanie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maytin
authors.affiliation: Research Center for Bioelectromagnetic Interaction, Institute of Occupational Medicine, University Hospital, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kraus
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine I (Cardiology, Angiology, Pneumology and Internal Intensive Care Medicine), University Hospital, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstrasse 30, Aachen 52074, Germany.
authors.forename: Nikolaus
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Marx
authors.affiliation: Research Center for Bioelectromagnetic Interaction, Institute of Occupational Medicine, University Hospital, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Driessen
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000465:Algorithms; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D017147:Defibrillators, Implantable; D004574:Electromagnetic Fields / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004867:Equipment Design; D004868:Equipment Failure; D006801:Humans; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000517:prevention & control; D010138:Pacemaker, Artificial
keywords: Cardiac pacemaker; Cardiovascular implantable electronic devices; Electromagnetic fields; Electromagnetic interference; Implantable cardioverter defibrillators