Cardiac implantable electronic device infection in patients with end-stage renal disease

Cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIED) are increasingly being used in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients. These patients have a high risk of device infection.

To study the optimal management of device infections in patients with ESRD.

We used the United States Renal Data System (USRDS) to assess the presence of a CIED and associated comorbidities, risk factors for infection, and mortality following device extraction or medical management in ESRD patients with CIED infection. Univariable, multivariable, and survival analyses were performed using USRDS data from 2005 to 2009.

Of 546,769 patients, 6.4% had CIED and 8.0% of those developed CIED infection. The major risk factors for device infection were black race, temporary dialysis catheter, and body mass index >25. Patients with artificial valves were excluded from the analysis. Only 28.4% of infected CIED were removed. CIED removal was more common in those with congestive heart failure. The median time to death following diagnosis of a CIED infection was 15.7 months versus 9.2 months for those treated via device extraction versus medical-only therapy (hazard ratio: 0.75; 95% confidence interval: 0.68-0.82).

Patients with ESRD and infected CIEDs have a poor prognosis. Rates of device extraction are low, but this strategy appears to be associated with modest improvement in survival.