Extended Use of the Wearable Cardioverter-Defibrillator: Which Patients Are Most Likely to Benefit?

ABSTRACT:

Background

Wearable cardioverter-defibrillators (WCD, LifeVest, ZOLL) can protect from sudden cardiac death bridging a vulnerable period until a decision on implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) implantation can be reached. WCD is commonly used for 3 months or less. It is unknown, which patients use WCD longer and which patients are most likely to benefit from it.

Hypothesis

Extended use of WCD is reasonable in selected cases based on underlying heart disease and overall patient risk profile.

Methods

We conducted a systematic and comprehensive research of all published clinical studies on PubMed reporting on the use of the WCD. Only original articles reporting on wear times and time to appropriate shocks were included in our analysis.

Results

The search

SUBMITTER: Kovacs B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6304887 | biostudies-literature | 2018

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature