CVRN Research-ICDs

Implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) for primary prevention in community practice: clinical characteristics, outcomes, resource utilization, and cost

Co-Principal Investigators: Robert T. Greenlee, PhD & Frederick Masoudi, MD, MSPH

Implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) have revolutionized the approach to treatment for hundreds of thousands of patients in the US with left ventricular systolic dysfunction who are at risk for sudden cardiac death. Despite broadened indications for ICD therapy, use varies across demographic groups. Unfortunately, most existing data on complication rates, mortality, morbidity, and cost of primary prevention ICD therapy derive from clinical trials, which enroll subjects who may not be representative of patients cared for in routine practice. The aims of this project are: to evaluate the extent to which patients receiving ICDs for primary prevention meet guideline-based eligibility criteria; to assess longitudinal outcomes and costs among primary prevention ICD patients compared to published trial results; and, to identify the characteristics associated with these outcomes in real world community practice.

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