Defensive Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator Programming Is Safe and Reduces Inappropriate Therapy　― Comparison of 3 Programming Strategies in 1,471 Patients ―

1,471 unselected patients implanted with an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) between January 2000 and May 2015, regardless of comorbidities, indication for primary or secondary prevention, and type/manufacture of ICD device. Mean age ranged from 60.5 to 62.4 years across groups, approximately 82% male, based at a university cardiac center in Vienna, Austria.

Therapy-reducing long detection time programming (RED) strategy, prolonging detection times to the maximum number of intervals to detect (NID), established from October 2010 to May 2015.

Individual ICD programming (IND) using patient-to-patient different settings at physician discretion (January 2000 to August 2005), and standard-three-zone programming (STD) using standardized ATP or shock therapy without prolonged detection times (September 2005 to September 2010).

Time to antitachycardia pacing (ATP) or shock therapy.safety