Risk factors for ventricular tachyarrhythmic events in patients without left bundle branch block who receive cardiac...

Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) may be pro-arrhythmic in patients with non-left bundle branch block (non-LBBB). We hypothesized that combined assessment of risk factors (RF) for ventricular tachyarrhythmias (VTAs) can be used to stratify non-LBBB patients for CRT implantation.

The study comprised 412 non-LBBB patients from MADIT-CRT randomized to CRT-D (n = 215) versus ICD only (n = 197). Best-subset regression analysis was performed to identify RF associated with increased VTA risk in CRT-D patients without LBBB. The primary end point was first occurrence of sustained VTA during follow-up. Secondary end points included VTA/death and appropriate shock.

Four RFs were associated with increased VTA risk: blood urea nitrogen >25mg/dl, ejection fraction <20%, prior nonsustained VT, and female gender. Among CRT-D patients, 114 (53%) had no RF, while 101 (47%) had ≥1 RF. The 4-year cumulative probability of VTA was higher among those with ≥1 RF compared with those without RF (40% vs. 14%, p < .001). Multivariate analysis showed that in patients without RF, treatment with CRT-D was associated with a 61% reduction in VTA compared with ICD-only therapy (p = .002), whereas among patients with ≥1 RF, treatment with CRT-D was associated with a corresponding 73% (p = .025) risk increase. Consistent results were observed when the secondary end points of VTA/death and appropriate ICD shocks were assessed.

Combined assessment of factors associated with increased risk for VTA can be used for improved selection of non-LBBB patients for CRT-D.