September 16, 1997Circulation
Predictors of Arrhythmic Death and Cardiac Arrest in the ESVEM Trial
Key result
Presenting ventricular arrhythmia did not independently predict arrhythmic death or cardiac arrest, while left ventricular ejection fraction was the most important predictor.
Why the study?
Does the presenting ventricular arrhythmia predict arrhythmic death or cardiac arrest in patients treated with antiarrhythmic drugs?
Population
486 patients with ventricular arrhythmia treated with antiarrhythmic drugs from the ESVEM trial
Design
Cohort, Patients were originally randomized to antiarrhythmic drug testing…
Follow-up
6 years
Authors
Discussion
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Implication
LVEF may better predict arrhythmic death than presenting arrhythmia; challenges prior assumptions and leaves optimal risk stratification open.
Study Design
Type
RCT (n=486)
Randomization
randomized
Structured PICO
Does the presenting ventricular arrhythmia predict arrhythmic death or cardiac arrest in patients treated with antiarrhythmic drugs?
P
Population
486 patients presenting with ventricular tachycardia or cardiac arrest treated with antiarrhythmic drugs, followed for 6 years.
I
Intervention
Presenting arrhythmia type (ventricular tachycardia vs ventricular fibrillation/cardiac arrest)
O
Outcome
Arrhythmic death or cardiac arresthard clinical
Cite This Study
Caruso et al. (1997) conducted an RCT in Ventricular arrhythmia (ventricular tachycardia or cardiac arrest) (n=486). Electrophysiological study-guided antiarrhythmic drug testing vs. Ambulatory ECG monitoring-guided antiarrhythmic drug testing was evaluated on Arrhythmic death or cardiac arrest. Presenting ventricular arrhythmia did not independently predict arrhythmic death or cardiac arrest, while left ventricular ejection fraction was the most important predictor.