Effectiveness of ICD therapy in real clinical practice. The Olomouc ICD Registry.

BACKGROUND: Clinical parameters linked to a low benefit of ICD implantation and increased mortality risks are needed for an individualized assessment of potential benefits and risks of ICD implantation. METHODS: Analysis of a prospective registry of all patients hospitalized from 2009 to 2019 in a single centre for a first implantation of any type of ICD. RESULTS: A total of 2,681 patients were included in the registry. Until the end of follow-up (38.4 ± 29.1 months), 682 (25.4%) patients died. The one-year mortality in all patients, the one-year CV mortality, the three-year mortality in all patients, and the three-year CV mortality were 7.8%, 5.7%, 20.6%, and 14.8%, respectively. There was a statistically significant difference when the subgroups were compared according to the type of cardiomyopathy. No significant difference was found between primary and secondary prevention and between the types of devices. Male gender, age ≥ 75 years, diabetes mellitus, and atrial fibrillation were associated with a significantly increased mortality risk. CONCLUSION: In an analysis of a long-term follow-up of 2,681 ICD patients, we found no mortality difference between patients with ischemic or non-ischemic cardiomyopathy and in the device type. A higher mortality risk was found in men, patients older than 75 years, diabetics, and those with atrial fibrillation.

The role of adrenomedullin and galanin in recurrent vasovagal syncope: a case control study.

AIMS: Orthostatic stimuli are known to elicit changes in vasoactive peptide levels. The hypothesis of no difference in adrenomedullin and/or galanin levels in patients with recurrent vasovagal syncope and healthy controls was tested in a passive 35-min head-up tilt test (HUTT). METHODS: Twenty eight persons (14 patients and 14 healthy controls) were tested in a 35-min/60° head-up tilt test with telemetry monitoring. Three blood samples were evaluated for each person during the HUTT. Plasma levels of adrenomedullin and galanin were analysed by the Kruskal-Wallis test for all sampling periods. Vagal influence was indirectly assessed by the break index. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between groups in median values for either adrenomedullin or galanin plasma levels (all 6 p-values were greater than 0.4). For adrenomedullin, no significant difference between groups was found. For galanin, the rate of change between the 1st and 2nd measurement was significantly greater for patients (P=0.04), regardless of HUTT result but between the 2(nd) and 3(rd) measurement it was insignificant (P=0.36). In the group of positive cases, the break index increased significantly (P=0.02). CONCLUSION: We confirmed that there is a different galanin secretion pattern during orthostatic provocation in patients with recurrent vasovagal syncope than healthy individuals. For adrenomedullin, no significant difference was found. A significant increment of the break index confirmed increased vagal influence in the subgroup of positive cases.

The EGSYS and OESIL risk scores for classification of cardiac etiology of syncope: comparison, revaluation, and clinical implications.

AIMS: EGSYS-U, EGSYS-M, and OESIL risk scores for syncope evaluation are introduced, evaluated retrospectively, and their ability to classify cardiac syncopes is compared. The specificity and sensitivity of the scores were analyzed. Guidelines for the practical application of the scoring systems are provided to reduce unnecessary hospital admissions. METHODS: Retrospectively, 153 patients with syncope admitted to the Faculty Hospital in Ostrava in the year 2008 were enrolled for scoring with the EGSYS and OESIL risk scores. The computed scores were assessed with respect to the diagnosed etiology of the syncope. RESULTS: For each score system, the hypothesis that there is no difference in the score between the cardiac and the non-cardiac group was rejected (all p-values below 0.0001). Strong correlation between the three score systems was shown (Spearman correlation coefficient: r = 0.71 p < 0.0001 for EGSYS-U and OESIL, r = 0.88 p < 0.0001 for EGSYS-U and EGSYS-M, r = 0.60 p < 0.0001 for EGSYS-M and OESIL). Sensitivity and specificity of the scores were computed and compared. CONCLUSIONS: All three score systems were found capable of classifying cardiac syncopes, reducing unnecessary hospital admissions and improving syncope risk evaluation. EGSYS-U was recommended for emergency syncope management because it was found to have both high sensitivity and high specificity.