Potentially Inappropriate Cardioverter Defibrillator Implants in Secondary Prevention of Death.

Background: Implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) are recommended for patients experiencing malignant tachyarrhythmias due to irreversible causes, who are clinically stable, and have a life expectancy exceeding one year. However, adverse socioeconomic and psychosocial conditions can adversely affect short-term survival and may render implantation inappropriate.

Objective: To assess whether economic and psychosocial markers (EPSM) are associated with higher mortality in the first year (indicating potentially inappropriate implants) following ICD implantation.

Methods: A prospective cohort study conducted between 2017 and 2021 included patients with heart failure and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) < 50% who underwent ICD implantation for secondary prophylaxis. Prior to the procedure, patients were evaluated by an MDT, which examined four EPSM variables, namely socioeconomic vulnerability, self-care capacity, pharmacological adherence, and mood disorders. The participants were monitored for at least 12 months. Statistical significance was considered to be p-values < 0.05.

Results: A total of 208 individuals were included, with 144 (68.9%) being male. The mean LVEF was 32% ±9 and 107 (51%) had Chagas disease etiology. The mortality rate in the first year was 54/208 (25.8%). All patients who died had at least one of the EPSM and there no deaths were reported among the 73 (35.4%) who did not have EPSM. In multivariate analysis, having EPSM and LVEF were the only independent predictors of mortality under 1 year: RR 20.48 (2.75 - 52.29); p=0.003 and RR 0.97 (0.93 - 0.99); p=0.047, respectively.

Conclusion: Socioeconomic and psychosocial conditions should be identified and, where possible, resolved before implantation, as they may make device implantation a potentially inappropriate procedure.