Key result
Wearable cardioverter defibrillators are an effective bridging modality to prevent sudden cardiac death in patients with heart failure and low ejection fraction, though efficacy in early post-myocardial infarction remains equivocal.
Why the study?
Sudden cardiac death remains a leading cause of mortality, but the indication and utility of the wearable cardioverter defibrillator as a bridging modality to an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator remains controversial.
Does the wearable cardioverter defibrillator (WCD) prevent sudden cardiac death in patients at high risk, such as those with HFrEF or post-MI?
Does the wearable cardioverter defibrillator (WCD) prevent sudden cardiac death in patients at high risk, such as those with HFrEF or post-MI?
Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
The wearable cardioverter defibrillator is an effective bridging therapy to prevent sudden cardiac death in patients with low ejection fraction awaiting permanent ICD implantation.
Despite the advancements in the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases, sudden cardiac death (SCD) remains a leading cause of mortality and is accountable for approximately 15% of the total mortality in the USA. The prognosis after sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) varies significantly and depends largely on the underlying etiology and the rapidity and efficiency of resuscitation; however, the outcome remains poor for most of the patients. The main culprits for SCD are coronary heart disease (CHD) and heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). Patients with HFrEF and an ejection fraction (EF) of less than 35% are considered for an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) placement if the EF does not improve. A wearable cardioverter defibrillator (WCD) commonly known as a life-vest is sometimes used as a bridging modality until an ICD is implanted. The indication and utility of WCD is still a controversial topic. The purpose of this article is to provide an up-to-date comprehensive review of literature for WCD utilization.
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Alsamman et al. (2022) conducted a review in Sudden cardiac death risk in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction and post-myocardial infarction. Wearable cardioverter defibrillator (WCD) was evaluated. Wearable cardioverter defibrillators are an effective bridging modality to prevent sudden cardiac death in patients with heart failure and low ejection fraction, though efficacy in early post-myocardial infarction remains equivocal.
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