Less-sick patients may benefit from preventive ICDs, study says | MassDevice.com On Call

A new study suggests that patients with less-severe forms of heart failure may benefit from proactive and preventive treatment with implantable cardioverter defibrillators.

MASSDEVICE ON CALL — New data on implantable cardioverter defibrillators suggests that devices may help even less-sick patients prolong their lives.

The implants are generally indicated for patients who have fairly severe deficiencies in the heart's left ventricle's ability to pump blood coming from the left atrium out to the aorta. Normal left ventricular ejection fraction, or LVEF, is generally defined as between 50%-70%. Lower rates are considered a sign of potential dysfunction or heart failure.

Duke University, Journal of the American Medical Assn. (JAMA)

News Well, Clinical Trials, On Call, Cardiac Implants, Cardiac Rhythm Management, Cardiovascular

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