https://doi.org/10.1007/s00392-024-02526-y
1Klinikum der Ruhr-Universität Bochum Medizinische Klinik II, Kardiologie Bochum, Deutschland; 2Universitätsklinikum Münster Medizinische Klinik B Münster, Deutschland; 3Berufsgenossenschaftlliches Universitätsklinikum Bergmannsheil Medizinische Klinik II, Kardiologie und Angiologie Bochum, Deutschland; 4Kath. Klinikum Bochum Kardiologie und Rhytmologie Bochum, Deutschland; 5Universitätsklinikum Mannheim GmbH I. Medizinische Klinik Mannheim, Deutschland; 6Department of Cardiology University Heart Center, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland Zürich, Schweiz; 7HELIOS Klinikum Krefeld Medizinische Klinik I Krefeld, Deutschland; 8Klinikum Sankt Georg Klinik für Kardiologie, Angiologie und intern. Intensivmedizin Leipzig, Deutschland; 9Universitätsklinikum Bonn Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik II Bonn, Deutschland; 10Kreiskrankenhaus Bergstraße gGmbH Innere Medizin II Heppenheim, Deutschland; 11Kath. Klinikum Bochum Cellular Physiology Bochum, Deutschland; 12Universitätsklinikum Frankfurt Med. Klinik III - Kardiologie, Angiologie Frankfurt am Main, Deutschland; 13Marienhospital Gelsenkirchen GmbH Klinik für Kardiologie, Angiologie und Interne Intensivmedizin Gelsenkirchen, Deutschland; 14Klinikum Saarbrücken gGmbH Medizinische Klinik II Saarbrücken, Deutschland; 15Berufsgenossenschaftlliches Universitätsklinikum Bergmannsheil gGmbH Medizinische Klinik II, Kardiologie und Angiologie Bochum, Deutschland
Methods and Results: In total, 1675 consecutive patients with WCD were included in a multicenter registry from 9 European centres, with a median follow-up of 440 days (IQR 120-893). The primary study end point was the occurrence of sustained ventricular tachyarrhythmia (sustained ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation). Mean age of the WCD cohort was 59.3 years, and 79% of patients were male. Mean baseline left ventricular ejection fraction was 30% and increased to 42.6% at follow-up after 6-12 months. Sustained ventricular tachycardia was detected by WCD in 5.4% and ventricular fibrillation in 0.9% of all patients. Of the 507 patients (30.3%) receiving ICD-implantation during follow-up, sustained ventricular tachycardia was recorded in 47 patients (9.3%) and ventricular fibrillation in 13 patients (2.6%).
Non-ischemic cardiomyopathy (HR 0.6, 95% CI 0.4-0.9, p=0.011), left ventricular ejection fraction improvement in the first three months (HR 0.6, 95% CI 0.4-0.9, p=0.022), angiotensin-converting-enzyme-inhibitor use (HR 0.6, 95% CI 0.4-0.9, p=0.021) and aldosterone antagonist use (HR 0.7, 95% CI 0.5-1.0, p=0.034) were associated with a significantly lower risk of sustained ventricular tachyarrhythmia during follow-up. In contrast, atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter increased the risk (HR 1.9, 95% CI 1.0-3.4, p=0.031).
Conclusions: Patients who received WCD due to a transient increased risk of sudden cardiac death have a comparatively lower risk of sustained ventricular arrhythmias in the presence of non-ischemic cardiomyopathy and freedom from atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter. Of note, optimal medical treatment for heart failure not only results in an improvement in left ventricular ejection fraction but also in a reduction in the risk for sustained ventricular tachyarrhythmia.