Mortality and incidence of malignant arrhythmias in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy and implantable cardioverter defibrillator in primary and secondary prevention

Introduction: Implantation of implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) as a primary prevention (PP) is indicated in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) with a reduced ejection fraction as well as a life expectancy longer than a year. Implantation of ICD as a secondary prevention (SP) is indicated after cardiac arrest and in patients with symptomatic ventricular tachycardia. Results of a Danish register did not show mortality to decrease in patients with non-ischaemic cardiomyopathy (NCM).1, 2 The goal of our research is to analyze results from University Hospital “Merkur”. Results and Conclusion: From 2012 up to 2017 a total of 89 ICDs were implanted due to DCM, 69 for PP and 20 for SP. Data was collected retrospectively and analyzed. The average age of our patients was 62.9 years, 13 out of 89 were women. The average follow up lasted 32 months. 69 patients were treated due to PP, 36 with ischemic cardiomyopathy (ICM) vs 33 with NCM. Death occurred in 9 patients (7 with ICM vs 2 with NCM), 7 died due to heart failure (HF) and 2 due to noncardiovascular cause (in NCM group). Sudden cardiac death (SCD) was prevented in 12 patients (7 ICM vs 5 NCM). There were 30 appropriate ICD therapy deliveries, significantly more in the group of patients with ICM (23 vs 7 ; p < 0.05). In patients younger then 59 (29 patients) ICD therapy was delivered in 3 patients, and in a group of older patients (40 patients) ICD therapy was delivered in 9 patients. 15 patients with ICM and 5 with NCM were treated due to SP. Death occurred in 5 patients (3 ICM vs 2 NCM), all due to HF. In 4 patients SCD was prevented (3 ICM vs 1 NCM). There were 8 appropriate ICD therapy deliveries (7 ICM vs 1 NCM). 16 patients were older then 59, and all patients in which SCD was prevented, were older then 59. In both groups there were 51 patient with ICM and 38 with NCM. Death occurred in 14 patients (5 ICM and 9 NCM). SCD was prevented in 16 patients (10 ICM vs 6 NCM). In total there were 38 appropriate ICD therapy deliveries (30 ICM and 8 NCM, p