Implantable-cardioverter-defibrillator : clinical advancements in individualized and targeted treatment

Abstract

The beneficial effect of ICD therapy has been demonstrated in randomized trials. In the current thesis the long-term effect is evaluated in patients who received ICD therapy in contemporary clinical practice. It focusses on the effect in sub-populations that are underrepresented in randomized studies, such as women, the elderly and patients with recovery of their heart function.

Prophylactic implantation of ICDs in all patients that qualify for ICD therapy according the current guidelines, will deplete the financial resources and trained personnel. Therefore, this thesis also focusses on riskstratification of ICD and CRT-D patients. Existing models developed to predict survival benefit in individual ICD patients were compared and adapted to contemporary ICD population. The current thesis is hereby providing valuable and new information to a large group of patients.