RESUMO
AIM: Adherence to guidelines was not homogeneous in Europe, according to the survey on cardiac resynchronization therapy conducted in 2008-2009. The aim of our study was to compare the results in the Italian and European cohorts of the Second European Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy Survey. METHODS: Patients' characteristics, procedural data and follow-up were collected. Italian records were compared with European countries. RESULTS: Italian hospitals enrolled 526 patients. The italian cohort was older (71.6â±â9.5 vs. 68.4â±â10.8; Pâ<â0.00001), had less severe NYHA class (>II 47.2 vs. 59.6%; Pâ<â0.00001), higher ejection fraction (30.3â±â7.4 vs. 28.4â±â8.2%; Pâ<â0.00001), and less atrial fibrillation prevalence (34.4 vs. 41.2%; Pâ=â0.00197) than the European cohort. Italian patients were more frequently hospitalized for heart failure in the previous year (51.9 vs. 46.2%; Pâ=â0.01118) and had lower mean QRS duration (151â±â26 vs. 157â±â27âms; Pâ<â0.0001). CRT-D were more often implanted in Italian patients (79.3 vs. 69.3%; Pâ<â0.00001). The complication rate was similar (4.6% vs. 5.6%; ns). The rate of use of ACEi/ARBs in Italy was lower than in Europe (77.2 vs. 86.9%; Pâ<â0.00001). Patients were followed up in the implantation centre (92.1 vs. 86%; Pâ=â0.00014), but rarely with remote monitoring (25.9 vs. 30%; Pâ=â0.04792). CONCLUSION: The survey demonstrates important similarities as well as substantial differences regarding most of the aspects evaluated. Efforts to implement adherence to guidelines will be endorsed in Italy.