Recent Updates in the Role of Wearable Cardioverter Defibrillator for Prevention of Sudden Cardiac Death

Current Treatment Options in Cardiovascular Medicine
Irene KirolosYehoshua C Levine

Abstract

The wearable cardioverter defibrillator (WCD) or LifeVest may protect against sudden cardiac death (SCD) in patients awaiting insertion of an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD). The purpose of this communication is to review the rationale behind WCD therapy and to critically analyze recent data regarding its clinical efficacy. We seek to provide evidence-based recommendations regarding the potential role of the WCD in certain populations. The only randomized controlled trial that evaluated WCD therapy did not demonstrate a reduced rate of arrhythmic death in patients prescribed the WCD during the first 90-day post-myocardial infarction (MI). However, when considering trial results alongside previous retrospective data, patient noncompliance with WCD therapy-rather than ineffectiveness of WCD therapy-remains an important theme. The uncertainty of data regarding the use of WCD therapy in patients during ICD waiting periods should be considered as part of the shared decision processes between healthcare providers and patients. Higher rates of adherence are needed to ensure efficiency. Well-designed future studies with appropriate cost-effectiveness analyses are indicated to define the clinical efficacy of WCD therapy on ...Continue Reading

References

Dec 31, 1997·The New England Journal of Medicine·UNKNOWN Antiarrhythmics versus Implantable Defibrillators (AVID) Investigators
Jan 15, 2004·Pacing and Clinical Electrophysiology : PACE·Arthur M FeldmanUNKNOWN BIROAD investigators and coordinators
Dec 14, 2004·The New England Journal of Medicine·Stefan H HohnloserUNKNOWN DINAMIT Investigators
Jan 22, 2005·The New England Journal of Medicine·Gust H BardyUNKNOWN Sudden Cardiac Death in Heart Failure Trial (SCD-HeFT) Investigators
Jun 24, 2005·The New England Journal of Medicine·Scott D SolomonUNKNOWN Valsartan in Acute Myocardial Infarction Trial (VALIANT) Investigators
Aug 17, 2005·Europace : European Pacing, Arrhythmias, and Cardiac Electrophysiology : Journal of the Working Groups on Cardiac Pacing, Arrhythmias, and Cardiac Cellular Electrophysiology of the European Society of Cardiology·Vladimir P Nikolski, Igor R Efimov
Mar 28, 2007·The New England Journal of Medicine·William E BodenUNKNOWN COURAGE Trial Research Group
Sep 5, 2008·The New England Journal of Medicine·Jeanne E PooleGust H Bardy
Oct 9, 2009·The New England Journal of Medicine·Gerhard SteinbeckUNKNOWN IRIS Investigators
Jul 14, 2010·Journal of the American College of Cardiology·Mina K ChungPatrick J Tchou
Mar 12, 2016·Journal of the American College of Cardiology·Gabriel C BrooksUNKNOWN PREDICTS Investigators
Mar 30, 2016·Circulation·Jonathan P PicciniUNKNOWN American Heart Association Electrocardiography and Arrhythmias Committee of the Council on Clinical Cardiology and Council o
Dec 27, 2017·Current Problems in Cardiology·Manyoo AgarwalRami N Khouzam
Feb 13, 2018·Cardiac Electrophysiology Clinics·Jonathan Weinstock
Feb 16, 2018·Circulation Journal : Official Journal of the Japanese Circulation Society·Shinichi NiwanoTakashi Nitta
May 1, 2018·World Journal of Cardiology·Jackson J LiangBenjamin A D'Souza
Jul 26, 2018·International Journal of Cardiology·Heidi J OwenMichael J Ackerman
Aug 10, 2018·Pacing and Clinical Electrophysiology : PACE·Michael J MirroSamuel F Sears
Aug 20, 2018·International Journal of Cardiology·Georgy KasparDipak Shah
Oct 4, 2018·The New England Journal of Medicine·Jeffrey E OlginUNKNOWN VEST Investigators

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.