Inequity of access to implantable cardioverter defibrillator therapy in England: possible causes of geographical variation in implantation rates.

ABSTRACT

AIMS: There is marked geographical variation in implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) implantation rates in England. This study examined factors which might explain this variation. METHODS AND RESULTS: Detailed data relating to 1510 patients who received an implanted defibrillator and who were reported to a national pacemaker and implantable defibrillator registry in 2002 were examined and correlated with factors which have been suggested as affecting ICD implantation. None of the factors examined, which included factors related both to the need for ICD implantation and service provision, in addition to socio-economic deprivation, was found to correlate with regional ICD implantation rates. CONCLUSION: There appears to have been no systematic planning of ICD services. Whether this has led to the marked regional variation and in inequity of service provision is not clear.