Time dependence of defibrillator benefit after coronary revascularization in the Multicenter Automatic Defibrillator

Ilan Goldenberg1, Arthur J Moss, Scott McNitt

  • 1Cardiology Unit, Department of Medicine, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York 14642, USA. ilan.goldenberg@heart.rochester.edu

Insights

The implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) provides survival benefits for ischemic left ventricular dysfunction patients more than six months after coronary revascularization (CR). Early ICD implantation (≤6 months post-CR) shows no benefit, likely due to lower sudden cardiac death risk.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Electrophysiology
  • Cardiac Surgery

Background:

  • Implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) improve survival in high-risk cardiac patients.
  • The CABG-Patch trial showed no survival benefit with prophylactic ICD implantation during coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the time-dependent effect of coronary revascularization (CR) on implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) benefit and sudden cardiac death (SCD) risk in patients with ischemic left ventricular dysfunction.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of outcomes based on time elapsed since coronary revascularization (CR) in 951 patients from the Multicenter Automatic Defibrillator Implantation Trial (MADIT)-II.
  • Comparison of ICD therapy versus conventional therapy, examining hazard ratios (HR) and p-values.

Main Results:

  • ICD therapy showed a significant survival benefit (HR=0.64, p=0.01) in patients implanted >6 months after CR.
  • No survival benefit was observed for ICD therapy in patients implanted ≤6 months after CR (HR=1.19, p=0.76).
  • In the conventional therapy group, cardiac death risk increased significantly with time from CR, with a six-fold rise in SCD risk >6 months post-CR.

Conclusions:

  • ICD efficacy in ischemic left ventricular dysfunction is time-dependent following CR.
  • Significant life-saving benefits of ICDs are evident when implanted >6 months after CR.
  • The lack of early benefit may be attributed to a lower risk of SCD within the first six months post-CR.
Abstract