Natural History and Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator Implantation After Revascularization for Stable Coronary Artery Disease With Depressed Ejection Fraction

Clin Cardiol. 2015 Dec;38(12):715-9. doi: 10.1002/clc.22477. Epub 2015 Oct 7.

Abstract

Background: Following revascularization, most payors require 3 months of medical therapy, followed by left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) reassessment, before implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) implantation possibly contributing to incomplete follow-up and suboptimal utilization of ICD therapy. The natural history of these patients, and their fate regarding ICD implantation, is unknown.

Hypothesis: We hypothesized that a waiting period after revascularization for stable CAD results in missed opportunities to provide care with regard to ICD implantation.

Methods: We followed patients with LVEF ≤ 35% and no ICD who underwent revascularization (coronary artery bypass grafting [CABG] or percutaneous coronary intervention [PCI]) for stable CAD. Follow-up used chart review and scripted telephone interviews.

Results: Among 3164 revascularized patients (2198 [69%] PCI, 966 [31%] CABG), only 62 (2%; 33 [53%] male, age 67 ± 12 y, LVEF 28% ± 6%) had stable CAD, depressed LVEF, and no ICD. Over 35 ± 19 months, 35 (56%) of these 62 patients were no longer candidates for ICD based on improved LVEF, 14 (23%) received an ICD, 5 (8%) declined ICD despite physician recommendation, 3 (5%) were not offered ICD despite continued eligibility, 2 (3%) died, 1 (2%) was not a candidate due to substance abuse, and 1 (2%) had ICD implantation temporarily deferred. Only 1 (2%) was lost to follow-up.

Conclusions: Following revascularization for stable CAD with depressed LVEF, ≥50% of patients' ventricular function improved enough to make ICD implantation unnecessary. A waiting period after revascularization prior to ICD implantation appears appropriate and does not significantly negatively impact follow-up or the rate of appropriate ICD implantation.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Coronary Artery Disease / complications
  • Coronary Artery Disease / therapy*
  • Defibrillators, Implantable / adverse effects
  • Defibrillators, Implantable / statistics & numerical data*
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Myocardial Revascularization / methods*
  • Risk Factors
  • Stroke Volume*
  • Time Factors
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / complications
  • Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / therapy*