Association between implantable defibrillator-detected sleep apnea and atrial fibrillation: The DASAP-HF study.

Introduction: The Respiratory Disturbance Index (RDI) computed by an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) algorithm accurately identifies severe sleep apnea (SA). In the present analysis, we tested the hypothesis that RDI could also predict atrial fibrillation (AF) burden.

Methods: Patients with ejection fraction ≤35% implanted with an ICD were enrolled and followed up for 24 months.

Prognostic value of implantable defibrillator-computed respiratory disturbance index: The DASAP-HF study.

Background: Sleep apnea, as measured by polysomnography, is associated with adverse outcomes in heart failure. The DASAP-HF (Diagnosis and Treatment of Sleep Apnea in Patient With Heart Failure) study previously demonstrated that the respiratory disturbance index (RDI) computed by the ApneaScan algorithm (Boston Scientific) accurately identifies severe sleep apnea in implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) patients.

Objective: The purpose of the long-term study phase was to assess the incidence of clinical events after 24 months and investigate the association with RDI values.

Implantable cardioverter-defibrillator-computed respiratory disturbance index accurately identifies severe sleep apnea: The DASAP-HF study.

Background: Sleep apnea (SA) is a relevant issue in the management of patients with heart failure for risk stratification and for implementing treatment strategies.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate in patients with implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) the performance of the respiratory disturbance index (RDI) computed by the ApneaScan algorithm (Boston Scientific Inc., Natick, MA) as a discriminator of severe SA.

Economic impact of remote monitoring after implantable defibrillators implantation in heart failure patients: an analysis from the EFFECT study.

Aims: Heart failure (HF) patients with implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICD) require admissions for disease management and out-patient visits for disease management and assessment of device performance. These admissions place a significant burden on the National Health Service. Remote monitoring (RM) is an effective alternative to frequent hospital visits.

Comparison between IEGM-based approach and echocardiography in AV/PV and VV delay optimization in CRT-D recipients (Quicksept study).

Background: AtrioVentricular (AV) and InterVentricular (VV) delay optimization can improve ventricular function in Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy (CRT) and is usually performed by means of echocardiography. St Jude Medical has developed an automated algorhythm which calculates the optimal AV and VV delays (QuickOpt™) based on Intracardiac ElectroGrams, (IEGM), within 2 min. So far, the efficacy of the algorhythm has been tested acutely with standard lead position at right ventricular (RV) apex.

Diagnosis of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation in patients with implanted pacemakers: relationship to symptoms and other variables.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is not always accompanied by clear-cut symptoms and symptoms suggestive of AF may not correspond to a genuine AF episode. The study prospectively evaluated the burden of asymptomatic AF episodes in pacemaker patients (for sick sinus syndrome) with a history of documented paroxysmal AF.

Methods: Consecutive patients were enrolled and implanted with dual-chamber pacemakers equipped with diagnostic features for AF monitoring.