Preventive Effect of Amiodarone on VT/VF Events in ICD Patients with Structural Heart Diseases

Background: Although amiodarone (AMD) is applied for implantable cardioverterdefibrillator (ICD) patients to reduce VT/VF events, its actual benefit and long-term efficacy are unclear. In the present study, we retrospectively evaluated the incidence of VT/VF events in ICD patients with and without AMD. Methods and results: The study population consisted of 77 consecutive patients with ICD therapy and structural heart diseases. They were followed up for 24 ± 3 months, and the incidences of VT/VF events or hospitalization were evaluated. When they were divided into two groups with and without VT/VF events (42:35), univariate analysis indicated a higher incidence of cardiomyopathy as the basic disease, VT as the initial arrhythmic diagnosis, higher levels of total bilirubin, and a lower incidence of AMD use in patients with VT/VF events. When they were divided by AMD use (24/53), VT/VF events were observed in 8/24 in patients with AMD (33.3%) and 34/53 without AMD (64.2%, p = 0:012). In sub-group analysis based on left ventricular ejection function (LVEF), the VT/VF event rate was lower in the AMD group in patients with LVEF < 40% (p = 0:007). Conclusions: AMD was considered to reduce VT/VF events in ICD patients, especially in the population with structural heart disease and lower LVEF.