Late cardiac device infections (≥12 months) occurred at a significantly higher rate than early infections (3.7% vs 1.2%, P<0.025), driven primarily by increased infections in CRT-D devices.
Cohort (n=496)
What are the rates of early versus late cardiac device infection requiring device removal following complex device implantation?
Late cardiac device infections (≥12 months post-implant) are significantly more common than early infections, primarily driven by CRT-D devices, highlighting a need for long-term surveillance.
Absolute Event Rate: 3.7% vs 1.2%
p-value: p=<0.025
AIMS: The incidence of cardiac device infection (CDI) more than 12 months following complex device implant (late infection) has not been extensively reported. Our objective was to compare both early (within 12 months) and late infection rates following complex device implantation. METHODS AND RESULTS: Patients who received either a cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) device with or without a defibrillator (CRT-D or CRT-P), or a defibrillator alone implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD), between March 2005 and December 2011 were studied retrospectively. The study endpoint was device removal due to CDI. A total of 496 patients underwent complex device implantation. There were 1883 patient years of follow-up. Mean age was 73 ± 8 years. Seventy per cent were male. Overall, 24 infections (4.8%) were identified; 6 infections were within 12 months (1.2%) and 18 (3.7%) infections at least 12 months following implant (P < 0.025). The mean intervals between implant and infection were 6 months (±3.7) and 30 months (±14.4) in the early and late groups, respectively. Early infection rates (%) for ICD, CRT-P, and CRT-D devices were 1.5, 1.6, and 0.6, respectively. Corresponding late infection rates were 2.2, 2.1, and 6.4. The increased late infection rate was driven by increased CRT-D infection (P < 0.01; compared with early CRT-D infection). CONCLUSION: Early CDI rates are consistent with published data. Compared with early infection, late CDI rates are significantly increased and are due to CRT-D infection. These findings are consistent with emerging reports. Late CRT-D infection threatens to undermine the long-term costs and overall health gain from these devices.
Unsworth et al. (Thu,) conducted a cohort in Cardiac device implantation (n=496). Complex device implantation (CRT-D, CRT-P, ICD) vs. Early (<12 months) vs Late (≥12 months) post-implant was evaluated on Device removal due to cardiac device infection (CDI) (p=<0.025). Late cardiac device infections (≥12 months) occurred at a significantly higher rate than early infections (3.7% vs 1.2%, P<0.025), driven primarily by increased infections in CRT-D devices.