Publications by authors named "Benjamin T John"
Background: Concentric left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is independently associated with increased risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD). Some animal models of LVH display specific alterations of the myocardial interstitium that could increase myocardial vulnerability to ventricular arrhythmias, but these merit evaluation in humans with LVH and SCD.
Methods And Results: Twelve consecutive patients with isolated LVH and SCD (LVH+SCD) in the absence of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, coronary disease, or other cardiac structural abnormality were ascertained in the Oregon Sudden Unexpected Death Study.
Aims: Identification of implantable cardioverter/defibrillator (ICD) recipients at higher risk of future therapies may assist in pre-empting future shocks. Native QRS duration is an established predictor of overall mortality, but the role of this parameter as a clinical predictor of arrhythmic events warrants further investigation.
Methods And Results: In an analysis of a single-centre, 13-year ICD implantation experience (1990-2002), multiple clinical parameters including QRS duration were analysed using a multiple logistic regression model.
Article Synopsis
- The study examines the role of left ventricular (LV) dysfunction in sudden cardiac death (SCD) and identifies unique traits of SCD cases without LV dysfunction.
- Among 714 SCD cases, only 17% had their LV function assessed, revealing that 30% had severe LV dysfunction, while 48% had normal LV function.
- Those with normal LV function tended to be younger, had a higher percentage of females, were more likely to have seizure disorders, and had less established coronary artery disease, highlighting the need for better screening methods to identify at-risk individuals.
Objective: Characterization of a distinct, and as yet unexplained phenotype of sudden cardiac death (SCD).
Background: In a subgroup of patients with SCD, postmortem findings are limited to isolated idiopathic myocardial fibrosis (IMF). The absence of confounding factors may facilitate evaluation of the relationship between myocardial fibrosis and ventricular arrhythmogenesis.
Objectives: We sought to determine the annual incidence of sudden cardiac death (SCD) in the general population using a prospective approach. To assess the validity of retrospective surveillance, a simultaneous comparison was made with a death certificate-based method of determining SCD incidence.
Background: Accurate surveillance and characterization of SCD in the general population is likely to significantly facilitate current and future community-based preventive and therapeutic interventions.