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Use of beta-blockers in patients with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator.
LaPointe, Nancy M Allen; Stafford, Judith A; Pappas, Paul A; Al-Khatib, Sana M; Anstrom, Kevin J.
Affiliation
  • LaPointe NM; School of Medicine, Duke University, Duke Clinical Research Institute, Durham, NC 27705, USA. allen003@mc.duke.edu
Ann Pharmacother ; 43(7): 1189-96, 2009 Jul.
Article in En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-19567655
BACKGROUND: Implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) are indicated for both primary and secondary prevention of sudden cardiac arrest. beta-Blockers are also indicated in most patients who have an indication for an ICD; however, their use in this population is not well described. Some clinicians may be unaware of the recommendation for beta-blockers in this population. OBJECTIVE: To explore beta-blocker use among ICD recipients. METHODS: Adults who received their first ICD at Duke Hospital between July 1999 and July 2004 for primary or secondary prevention of sudden cardiac arrest were identified. Using hospital data, beta-blocker use was determined at time of discharge, and characteristics of users were compared with those of nonusers. Continued use of beta-blockers after ICD implant was explored in the subset of patients included in the Duke Databank for Cardiovascular Disease (DDCD). RESULTS: The study cohort comprised 804 patients, 652 (81%) with ICD for secondary prevention of sudden cardiac arrest and 152 (19%) for primary prevention. The median age was 65 years and 75% of the patients were men. A total of 544 (68%) received a beta-blocker at time of ICD implant. There were no substantial changes in the proportion of patients with beta-blocker use from 1999 through 2004, overall or within the primary or secondary prevention groups. However, beta-blocker use was higher in the secondary prevention group than in the primary prevention group (69% vs 60%; p = 0.02). A higher proportion of beta-blocker users versus nonusers had ischemic heart disease (82% vs 68%; p < 0.0001), heart failure (84% vs 71%; p < 0.0001), previous myocardial infraction (51% vs 44%; p = 0.05), and ventricular arrhythmias (82% vs 76%; p = 0.04). Of the 425 patients included in the DDCD, only 241 (57%) were receiving beta-blockers at time of implant and during clinical follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Lower than optimal use of beta-blockers suggests the need for new methods of including evidence-based medications in clinical practice, especially for complex patients for whom numerous clinical practice guidelines may apply.
Subject(s)

Full text: 1 Collection: 01-internacional Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Death, Sudden, Cardiac / Defibrillators, Implantable / Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Heart Diseases Type of study: Etiology_studies / Guideline / Incidence_studies / Observational_studies / Prognostic_studies / Risk_factors_studies Limits: Aged / Female / Humans / Male / Middle aged Language: En Journal: Ann Pharmacother Journal subject: FARMACOLOGIA / TERAPIA POR MEDICAMENTOS Year: 2009 Document type: Article Affiliation country: United States Country of publication: United States

Full text: 1 Collection: 01-internacional Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Death, Sudden, Cardiac / Defibrillators, Implantable / Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Heart Diseases Type of study: Etiology_studies / Guideline / Incidence_studies / Observational_studies / Prognostic_studies / Risk_factors_studies Limits: Aged / Female / Humans / Male / Middle aged Language: En Journal: Ann Pharmacother Journal subject: FARMACOLOGIA / TERAPIA POR MEDICAMENTOS Year: 2009 Document type: Article Affiliation country: United States Country of publication: United States