Zayd Eldadah

Effect of Early Diagnosis and Treatment With Percutaneous Lead Extraction on Survival in Patients With Cardiac Device Infections

Cardiac device infections (CDIs) represent a serious complication after the implantation of pacemakers and defibrillators. In addition to antimicrobials, complete hardware removal, mostly with percutaneous lead extraction (PLE), is necessary to limit recurrences. However, CDI diagnosis is often difficult and is sometimes delayed, and scarce data exist on how the timing of PLE may affect clinical outcomes. In this study, the in-hospital outcomes of 52 consecutive patients with CDIs who underwent PLE were retrospectively analyze. Co-morbidities such as diabetes mellitus, congestive heart failure, renal insufficiency, and end-stage renal disease were highly prevalent in the study cohort. Patients were divided into group A (bacteremia or device endocarditis) and group B (localized pocket infection). In-hospital mortality was 29% in group A and 5% in group B (p = 0.02) and was due mostly to sepsis. Hospital stays were shorter in group B patients (5.7 vs 21.7 days, p <0.001). Presentation with hypotension was more commonly observed in group A patients and was associated with higher in-hospital mortality, whereas pocket findings correlated with better survival. Postoperative courses after PLE were uneventful in most patients, and no fatal complications were observed. PLE was performed significantly earlier in group B patients (hospitalization day 1.3 vs 7.6, p <0.001). PLE performed within 3 hospitalization days was associated with lower in-hospital mortality (p = 0.01). In conclusion, PLE performed within 3 days from admission is associated with shorter hospitalization and better survival. A timely diagnosis is crucial, particularly in the absence of local findings, because early treatment with PLE is likely to prevent the catastrophic outcomes of unrelenting CDIs.

Prospective Observational Study of Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillators in Primary Prevention of Sudden Cardiac Death: Study Design and Cohort Description

Background Primary‐prevention implantable cardioverter‐defibrillators (ICDs) reduce total mortality in patients with severe left ventricular systolic function. However, only a minority of patients benefit from these devices. We designed the Prospective Observational Study of Implantable Cardioverter‐Defibrillators (PROSE‐ICD) to identify risk factors and enhance our understanding of the biological mechanisms that predispose to arrhythmic death in patients undergoing ICD implantation for primary prevention of sudden death. Methods and Results This is a multicenter prospective cohort study with a target enrollment of 1200 patients. The primary end point is ICD shocks for adjudicated ventricular tachyarrhythmias. The secondary end point is total mortality. All patients undergo a comprehensive evaluation including history and physical examination, signal‐averaged electrocardiograms, and blood sampling for genomic, proteomic, and metabolomic analyses. Patients are evaluated every 6 months and after every known ICD shock for additional electrocardiographic and blood sampling. As of December 2011, a total of 1177 patients have been enrolled with more nonwhite and female patients compared to previous randomized trials. A total of 143 patients have reached the primary end point, whereas a total of 260 patients died over an average follow‐up of 59 months. The PROSE‐ICD study represents a real‐world cohort of individuals with systolic heart failure receiving primary‐prevention ICDs. Conclusions Extensive electrophysiological and structural phenotyping as well as the availability of serial DNA and serum samples will be important resources for evaluating novel metrics for risk stratification and identifying patients at risk for arrhythmic sudden death. Clinical Trial Registration URL: http://clinicaltrials.gov/ Unique Identifier: NCT00733590.

Changes in follow-up left ventricular ejection fraction associated with outcomes in primary prevention implantable cardioverter-defibrillator and cardiac resynchronization therapy device recipients

BACKGROUND Heart failure patients with primary prevention implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICD) may experience an improvement in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) over time. However, it is unclear how LVEF improvement affects subsequent risk for mortality and sudden cardiac death. OBJECTIVES This study sought to assess changes in LVEF after ICD implantation and the implication of these changes on subsequent mortality and ICD shocks. METHODS We conducted a prospective cohort study of 538 patients with repeated LVEF assessments after ICD implantation for primary prevention of sudden cardiac death. The primary endpoint was appropriate ICD shock defined as a shock for ventricular tachyarrhythmias. The secondary endpoint was all-cause mortality. RESULTS Over a mean follow-up of 4.9 years, LVEF decreased in 13.0%, improved in 40.0%, and was unchanged in 47.0% of the patients. In the multivariate Cox models comparing patients with an improved LVEF with those with an unchanged LVEF, the hazard ratios were 0.33 (95% confidence interval: 0.18 to 0.59) for mortality and 0.29 (95% confidence interval: 0.11 to 0.78) for appropriate shock. During follow-up, 25% of patients showed an improvement in LVEF to >35% and their risk of appropriate shock decreased but was not eliminated. CONCLUSIONS Among primary prevention ICD patients, 40.0% had an improved LVEF during follow-up and 25% had LVEF improved to >35%. Changes in LVEF were inversely associated with all-cause mortality and appropriate shocks for ventricular tachyarrhythmias. In patients whose follow-up LVEF improved to >35%, the risk of an appropriate shock remained but was markedly decreased.

Protein biomarkers identify patients unlikely to benefit from primary prevention implantable cardioverter defibrillators: Findings from the prospective observational study of implantable cardioverter defibrillators (PROSE-ICD)

Background— Primary prevention implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) reduce all-cause mortality, but the benefits are heterogeneous. Current risk stratification based on left ventricular ejection fraction has limited discrimination power. We hypothesize that biomarkers for inflammation, neurohumoral activation, and cardiac injury can predict appropriate shocks and all-cause mortality in patients with primary prevention ICDs. Methods and Results— The Prospective Observational Study of Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators (PROSe-ICD) enrolled 1189 patients with systolic heart failure who underwent ICD implantation for primary prevention of sudden cardiac death. The primary end point was an ICD shock for adjudicated ventricular tachyarrhythmia. The secondary end point was all-cause mortality. After a median follow-up of 4.0 years, 137 subjects experienced an appropriate ICD shock and 343 participants died (incidence rates of 3.2 and 5.8 per 100 person-years, respectively). In multivariable-adjusted models, higher interleukin-6 levels increased the risk of appropriate ICD shocks. In contrast, C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-α receptor II, pro–brain natriuretic peptide (pro-BNP), and cardiac troponin T showed significant linear trends for increased risk of all-cause mortality across quartiles. A score combining these 5 biomarkers identified patients who were much more likely to die than to receive an appropriate shock from the ICD. Conclusions— An increase in serum biomarkers of inflammation, neurohumoral activation, and myocardial injury increased the risk for death but poorly predicted the likelihood of an ICD shock. These findings highlight the potential importance of serum-based biomarkers in identifying patients who are unlikely to benefit from primary prevention ICDs. Clinical Trial Registration— URL: [clinicaltrials.gov][1]; Unique Identifier: [NCT00733590][2]. [1]: http://clinicaltrials.gov [2]: /lookup/external-ref?link_type=CLINTRIALGOV&access_num=NCT00733590&atom=%2Fcircae%2F7%2F6%2F1084.atomBackground—Primary prevention implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) reduce all-cause mortality, but the benefits are heterogeneous. Current risk stratification based on left ventricular ejection fraction has limited discrimination power. We hypothesize that biomarkers for inflammation, neurohumoral activation, and cardiac injury can predict appropriate shocks and all-cause mortality in patients with primary prevention ICDs. Methods and Results—The Prospective Observational Study of Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators (PROSe-ICD) enrolled 1189 patients with systolic heart failure who underwent ICD implantation for primary prevention of sudden cardiac death. The primary end point was an ICD shock for adjudicated ventricular tachyarrhythmia. The secondary end point was all-cause mortality. After a median follow-up of 4.0 years, 137 subjects experienced an appropriate ICD shock and 343 participants died (incidence rates of 3.2 and 5.8 per 100 person-years, respectively). In multivariable-adjusted models, higher interleukin-6 levels increased the risk of appropriate ICD shocks. In contrast, C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-&agr; receptor II, pro–brain natriuretic peptide (pro-BNP), and cardiac troponin T showed significant linear trends for increased risk of all-cause mortality across quartiles. A score combining these 5 biomarkers identified patients who were much more likely to die than to receive an appropriate shock from the ICD. Conclusions—An increase in serum biomarkers of inflammation, neurohumoral activation, and myocardial injury increased the risk for death but poorly predicted the likelihood of an ICD shock. These findings highlight the potential importance of serum-based biomarkers in identifying patients who are unlikely to benefit from primary prevention ICDs. Clinical Trial Registration—URL: clinicaltrials.gov; Unique Identifier: NCT00733590.Background —Primary prevention implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) reduce all-cause mortality but the benefits are heterogeneous. Current risk stratification based on left ventricular ejection fraction has limited discrimination power. We hypothesize that biomarkers for inflammation, neurohumoral activation and cardiac injury can predict appropriate shocks and all-cause mortality in patients with primary prevention ICDs. Methods and Results —The Prospective Observational Study of Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators (PROSe-ICD) enrolled 1,189 patients with systolic heart failure who underwent ICD implantation for primary prevention of sudden cardiac death. The primary endpoint was an ICD shock for adjudicated ventricular tachyarrhythmia. The secondary endpoint was all-cause mortality. After a median follow-up of 4.0 years, 137 subjects experienced an appropriate ICD shock and 343 participants died (incidence rates of 3.2 and 5.8 per 100 person-years, respectively). In multivariable adjusted models, higher interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels increased the risk of appropriate ICD shocks. In contrast, C-reactive protein, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor-α receptor II, pro-brain natriuretic peptide, and cardiac troponin T showed significant linear trends for increased risk of all-cause mortality across quartiles. A score combining these 5 biomarkers identified patients who were much more likely to die than to receive an appropriate shock from the ICD. Conclusions —An increase in serum biomarkers of inflammation, neurohumoral activation and myocardial injury increased the risk for death but poorly predicted the likelihood of an ICD shock. These findings highlight the potential importance of serum-based biomarkers in identifying patients who are unlikely to benefit from primary prevention ICDs. Clinical Trial Registration —clinicaltrials.gov; Unique Identifier: [NCT00733590][1]. [1]: /lookup/external-ref?link_type=CLINTRIALGOV&access_num=NCT00733590&atom=%2Fcircae%2Fearly%2F2014%2F10%2F01%2FCIRCEP.113.001705.atom

Clinical and serum-based markers are associated with death within 1 year of de novo implant in primary prevention ICD recipients

BACKGROUND Implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) implantation is contraindicated in those with <1-year life expectancy. OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to develop a risk prediction score for 1-year mortality in patients with primary prevention ICDs and to determine the incremental improvement in discrimination when serum-based biomarkers are added to traditional clinical variables. METHODS We analyzed data from the Prospective Observational Study of Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillators, a large prospective observational study of patients undergoing primary prevention ICD implantation who were extensively phenotyped for clinical and serum-based biomarkers. We identified variables predicting 1-year mortality and synthesized them into a comprehensive risk scoring construct using backward selection. RESULTS Of 1189 patients deemed by their treating physicians as having a reasonable 1-year life expectancy, 62 (5.2%) patients died within 1 year of ICD implantation. The risk score, composed of 6 clinical factors (age ≥75 years, New York Heart Association class III/IV, atrial fibrillation, estimated glomerular filtration rate <30 mL/min/1.73 m(2), diabetes, and use of diuretics), had good discrimination (area under the curve 0.77) for 1-year mortality. Addition of 3 biomarkers (tumor necrosis factor α receptor II, pro-brain natriuretic peptide, and cardiac troponin T) further improved model discrimination to 0.82. Patients with 0-1, 2-3, 4-6, or 7-9 risk factors had 1-year mortality rates of 0.8%, 2.7%, 16.1%, and 46.2%, respectively. CONCLUSION Individuals with more comorbidities and elevation of specific serum biomarkers were at increased risk of all-cause mortality despite being deemed as having a reasonable 1-year life expectancy. A simple risk score composed of readily available clinical data and serum biomarkers may better identify patients at high risk of early mortality and improve patient selection and counseling for primary prevention ICD therapy.

Outcomes in African Americans undergoing cardioverter-defibrillator implantation for primary prevention of sudden cardiac death: Findings from the Prospective Observational Study of Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillators (PROSE-ICD)

BACKGROUND Implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) reduce the risk of death in patients with left ventricular dysfunction. Little is known regarding the benefit of this therapy in African Americans (AAs). OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to determine the association between AA race and outcomes in a cohort of primary prevention ICD patients. METHODS We conducted a prospective cohort study of patients with systolic heart failure who underwent ICD implantation for primary prevention of sudden cardiac death. The primary end-point was appropriate ICD shock defined as a shock for rapid ventricular tachyarrhythmias. The secondary end-point was all-cause mortality. RESULTS There were 1189 patients (447 AAs and 712 non-AAs) enrolled. Over a median follow-up of 5.1 years, a total of 137 patients experienced an appropriate ICD shock, and 343 died (294 of whom died without receiving an appropriate ICD shock). The multivariate adjusted hazard ratio (95% confidence interval) comparing AAs vs non-AAs were 1.24 (0.96-1.59) for all-cause mortality, 1.33 (1.02, 1.74) for all-cause mortality without receiving appropriate ICD shock, and 0.78 (0.51, 1.19) for appropriate ICD shock. Ejection fraction, diabetes, and hypertension appeared to explain 24.1% (10.1%-69.5%), 18.7% (5.3%-58.0%), and 13.6% (3.8%-53.6%) of the excess risk of mortality in AAs, with a large proportion of the mortality difference remaining unexplained. CONCLUSION In patients with primary prevention ICDs, AAs had an increased risk of dying without receiving an appropriate ICD shock compared to non-AAs.

PAVEing the Way for Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy

Permanent pacing and atrioventricular junction (AVJ) ablation is an effective and established therapy for atrial fibrillation with medically refractory rapid ventricular rates.1,2 The rate control achieved by AVJ ablation and right ventricular (RV) pacing comes at a price: an iatrogenic left bundle branch block with ventricular dyssynchrony. In patients with systolic dysfunction who are treated with an implantable defibrillator, RV pacing is associated with additional depression of the left ventricular ejection fraction and an increased frequency of symptomatic heart failure and adverse clinical outcomes.3,4 Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) improves mortality and quality of life in patients with symptomatic heart failure in the setting of systolic dysfunction, a left bundle branch block, and sinus rhythm.5,6 However, the role of CRT in patients who undergo AVJ ablation and permanent pacemaker implantation for the treatment of chronic atrial fibrillation with medically refractory rapid ventricular rates has been obscure. In this issue of the Journal, Doshi et al. present the results of a prospective, randomized study of 184 patients with chronic atrial fibrillation who underwent AVJ ablation and were randomized to CRT or RV pacing.7 Unique to randomized CRT trials, Post AV Nodal Ablation Evaluation (PAVE) enrolled patients with abnormal as well as normal left ventricular ejection fractions. The study compared 6-minute hallway walk distance, quality of life, and left ventricular ejection fraction after AVJ ablation in 103 patients who were randomized to treatment with CRT and 81 patients who were randomized to treatment with RV pacing. Both treatment groups showed similar improvements in 6-minute hallway walk distance at 6 and 12 weeks, but by 6 months postablation, the patients treated with CRT improved to a greater degree compared with the patients treated with RV pacing (31% above baseline vs 24% above baseline, P = 0.04). Similarly, at 6 months the left ventricular ejection fraction in patients treated with CRT was significantly greater compared with patients who received RV pacing (46% vs 41%, P = 0.03). Despite these objective improvements in hallway walk distance and left ventricular ejection fraction with CRT compared with RV pacing, no significant difference in quality of life was observed. When the data were stratified, patients with a normal left ventricular ejection fraction and no heart failure had the same benefit with CRT as with RV pacing. In contrast, patients with New York Heart Association (NYHA) Class II or III heart failure symptoms at enrollment who were

Protein Biomarkers Identify Patients Unlikely to Benefit from Primary Prevention ICDs: Findings from the PROSE-ICD Study

Background— Primary prevention implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) reduce all-cause mortality, but the benefits are heterogeneous. Current risk stratification based on left ventricular ejection fraction has limited discrimination power. We hypothesize that biomarkers for inflammation, neurohumoral activation, and cardiac injury can predict appropriate shocks and all-cause mortality in patients with primary prevention ICDs. Methods and Results— The Prospective Observational Study of Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators (PROSe-ICD) enrolled 1189 patients with systolic heart failure who underwent ICD implantation for primary prevention of sudden cardiac death. The primary end point was an ICD shock for adjudicated ventricular tachyarrhythmia. The secondary end point was all-cause mortality. After a median follow-up of 4.0 years, 137 subjects experienced an appropriate ICD shock and 343 participants died (incidence rates of 3.2 and 5.8 per 100 person-years, respectively). In multivariable-adjusted models, higher interleukin-6 levels increased the risk of appropriate ICD shocks. In contrast, C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-α receptor II, pro–brain natriuretic peptide (pro-BNP), and cardiac troponin T showed significant linear trends for increased risk of all-cause mortality across quartiles. A score combining these 5 biomarkers identified patients who were much more likely to die than to receive an appropriate shock from the ICD. Conclusions— An increase in serum biomarkers of inflammation, neurohumoral activation, and myocardial injury increased the risk for death but poorly predicted the likelihood of an ICD shock. These findings highlight the potential importance of serum-based biomarkers in identifying patients who are unlikely to benefit from primary prevention ICDs. Clinical Trial Registration— URL: [clinicaltrials.gov][1]; Unique Identifier: [NCT00733590][2]. [1]: http://clinicaltrials.gov [2]: /lookup/external-ref?link_type=CLINTRIALGOV&access_num=NCT00733590&atom=%2Fcircae%2F7%2F6%2F1084.atomBackground—Primary prevention implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) reduce all-cause mortality, but the benefits are heterogeneous. Current risk stratification based on left ventricular ejection fraction has limited discrimination power. We hypothesize that biomarkers for inflammation, neurohumoral activation, and cardiac injury can predict appropriate shocks and all-cause mortality in patients with primary prevention ICDs. Methods and Results—The Prospective Observational Study of Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators (PROSe-ICD) enrolled 1189 patients with systolic heart failure who underwent ICD implantation for primary prevention of sudden cardiac death. The primary end point was an ICD shock for adjudicated ventricular tachyarrhythmia. The secondary end point was all-cause mortality. After a median follow-up of 4.0 years, 137 subjects experienced an appropriate ICD shock and 343 participants died (incidence rates of 3.2 and 5.8 per 100 person-years, respectively). In multivariable-adjusted models, higher interleukin-6 levels increased the risk of appropriate ICD shocks. In contrast, C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-&agr; receptor II, pro–brain natriuretic peptide (pro-BNP), and cardiac troponin T showed significant linear trends for increased risk of all-cause mortality across quartiles. A score combining these 5 biomarkers identified patients who were much more likely to die than to receive an appropriate shock from the ICD. Conclusions—An increase in serum biomarkers of inflammation, neurohumoral activation, and myocardial injury increased the risk for death but poorly predicted the likelihood of an ICD shock. These findings highlight the potential importance of serum-based biomarkers in identifying patients who are unlikely to benefit from primary prevention ICDs. Clinical Trial Registration—URL: clinicaltrials.gov; Unique Identifier: NCT00733590.Background —Primary prevention implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) reduce all-cause mortality but the benefits are heterogeneous. Current risk stratification based on left ventricular ejection fraction has limited discrimination power. We hypothesize that biomarkers for inflammation, neurohumoral activation and cardiac injury can predict appropriate shocks and all-cause mortality in patients with primary prevention ICDs. Methods and Results —The Prospective Observational Study of Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators (PROSe-ICD) enrolled 1,189 patients with systolic heart failure who underwent ICD implantation for primary prevention of sudden cardiac death. The primary endpoint was an ICD shock for adjudicated ventricular tachyarrhythmia. The secondary endpoint was all-cause mortality. After a median follow-up of 4.0 years, 137 subjects experienced an appropriate ICD shock and 343 participants died (incidence rates of 3.2 and 5.8 per 100 person-years, respectively). In multivariable adjusted models, higher interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels increased the risk of appropriate ICD shocks. In contrast, C-reactive protein, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor-α receptor II, pro-brain natriuretic peptide, and cardiac troponin T showed significant linear trends for increased risk of all-cause mortality across quartiles. A score combining these 5 biomarkers identified patients who were much more likely to die than to receive an appropriate shock from the ICD. Conclusions —An increase in serum biomarkers of inflammation, neurohumoral activation and myocardial injury increased the risk for death but poorly predicted the likelihood of an ICD shock. These findings highlight the potential importance of serum-based biomarkers in identifying patients who are unlikely to benefit from primary prevention ICDs. Clinical Trial Registration —clinicaltrials.gov; Unique Identifier: [NCT00733590][1]. [1]: /lookup/external-ref?link_type=CLINTRIALGOV&access_num=NCT00733590&atom=%2Fcircae%2Fearly%2F2014%2F10%2F01%2FCIRCEP.113.001705.atom

Cardiac dimensions and function in atrial fibrillation: how do rate and rhythm control compare?

Cardiac dimensions and function in atrial fibrillation: how do rate and rhythm control compare?