Sleep-disordered breathing in recipients of implantable defibrillators.

Study Objectives: To examine the prevalence and clinical significance of sleep-disordered breathing in patients with implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICD).

Methods And Results: Overnight sleep studies were performed in 129 ICD recipients who had no history of sleep apnea. The mean left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was 29 +/- 11%.

Outcomes of elderly recipients of implantable cardioverter defibrillators.

Aims Of The Study: To examine the patterns of use, complication rates, and survival in elderly recipients of implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICD).

Methods And Results: We followed 500 consecutive patients included in the Marburg Defibrillator database for 48+/-39 months. There were 40 patients (8%) >/= 75 and 460 (92%) < 75 years of age at the time of implant.

B-type natriuretic peptide levels predict event-free survival in patients with implantable cardioverter defibrillators.

Introduction: We examined whether B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels predict outcome in heart failure patients with implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICD) using a combined endpoint of malignant tachyarrhythmias, death or heart transplantation.

Methods And Results: BNP levels were measured in 123 ICD patients with chronic heart failure (age: 63+/-12 years, ejection fraction: 29+/-10%). After a median follow-up of 25 months, the combined endpoint was reached in 28 patients (first tachyarrhythmic event, n=16; death, n=11; heart transplantation, n=1).

Arrhythmia risk prediction in idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy based on heart rate variability and baroreflex sensitivity.

Unlabelled: This study examined the relation between heart rate variability (HRV) and baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) and subsequent major arrhythmic events (MAE), defined as sustained VT, VF or sudden death, in 263 patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (IDC) in sinus rhythm. The predefined measure of HRV was the standard deviation of all normal-to-normal RR intervals (SDNN) on baseline 24-hour ambulatory ECG. BRS was determined by the phenylephrine method.

Prognostic significance of heart rate turbulence following ventricular premature beats in patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy.

Unlabelled: Heart Rate Turbulence in Dilated Cardiomyopathy.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to investigate the prognostic significance of heart rate turbulence (HRT) characterized by HRT onset and slope after ventricular premature beats in patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (IDC).

Methods And Results: Blinded HRT analysis was performed in 242 patients with IDC who were enrolled in the Marburg Cardiomyopathy database between 1992 and 2000.

Heart rate turbulence following ventricular premature beats in healthy controls.

Background: Heart rate turbulence (HRT) has recently been described as a strong, independent risk stratifier in postinfarct patients. To date, however, the incidence of false positive HRT findings in adults is unknown. Therefore, we performed a blinded, retrospective analysis of HRT in a prospectively collected database of 110 apparently healthy persons to determine the prevalence and clinical significance of abnormal HRT findings in healthy controls using previously published cut-off values.

How many patients with dilated cardiomyopathy may potentially benefit from cardiac resynchronization therapy?

The clinical and electrocardiographic Marburg Cardiomyopathy database was analyzed to identify potential candidates for cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) with biventricular or left ventricular pacing among 566 patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). All of the following restrictive selection criteria were fulfilled by 38 patients (7%): NYHA functional class > or = 3 (n = 193, 34%), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) < 30% (n = 238, 42%), sinus rhythm (n = 437, 77%), left bundle branch block (LBBB, n = 142, 25%), and QRS duration > or = 150 ms (n = 136, 24%). In 78 of the 566 patients (14%) all of the following less restrictive selection criteria were fulfilled: NYHA functional class > or = 3 (n = 193, 34%), LVEF < 35% in presence of any underlying rhythm (n = 326, 58%), QRS duration > or = 120 ms with right or left bundle branch block (n = 223, 39%).