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Updated: Jun 19, 2026

A New Single Chamber Implantable Defibrillator with Atrial Sensing: A Practical Demonstration of Sensing and Ease of Implantation
16:40

A New Single Chamber Implantable Defibrillator with Atrial Sensing: A Practical Demonstration of Sensing and Ease of Implantation

Published on: February 28, 2012

Electrocardiographic findings, device therapies, and comorbidities in octogenarian implantable defibrillator

James D Daniels1, Justin Saunders, Sunthosh Parvathaneni

  • 1The North Texas VA Health Sciences Center, Dallas, Texas, USA. James.Daniels@UTSouthwestern.edu

Journal of Cardiovascular Electrophysiology
|October 7, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Octogenarians receiving implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) show similar arrhythmia episodes and health outcomes compared to younger patients. Age alone should not prevent octogenarians from receiving ICDs, though ECG findings like sinus bradycardia and LBBB are more common.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Geriatric Medicine
  • Medical Devices

Background:

  • Implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) are crucial for preventing sudden cardiac death.
  • The safety and efficacy of ICDs in octogenarians (patients aged 80 and older) remain incompletely understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate baseline electrocardiographic (ECG) findings in octogenarians undergoing ICD implantation.
  • To compare arrhythmia episodes, device therapies, and non-arrhythmic morbidity/mortality between octogenarians and younger patient cohorts.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective review of 199 patients aged 70+ who received ICDs.
  • Patients categorized into three age groups: 70-74, 75-79, and 80+ years.
  • Analysis of baseline ECGs, device interrogations, and clinical outcomes.

Main Results:

  • Octogenarians exhibited higher rates of sinus bradycardia and left bundle branch block.
  • No significant differences were observed in the incidence of atrial fibrillation or AV block among age groups.
  • Rates of any ICD therapy, appropriate/inappropriate shocks, and time to first therapy were similar across all age groups.
  • Development of severe non-arrhythmic illness or death did not differ significantly between octogenarians and younger patients.

Conclusions:

  • Octogenarians receiving ICDs experience comparable arrhythmic events and clinical outcomes to younger individuals.
  • Higher prevalence of sinus bradycardia and LBBB in octogenarians may impact pacing strategies.
  • Age alone should not be a contraindication for ICD implantation in very elderly patients.
Abstract

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