Survival in patients with heart failure and implantable cardioverter-defibrillator in an electrophysiological unit in Pereira, Colombia

Objective: to identify the clinical variables that impact on the mortality of patients with heart failure implanted with cardioverter defibrillator. Implantable cardioverter defibrillator therapy seeks to prevent sudden cardiac death by collapsing malignant arrhythmias. Material y methods: retrospective cohort study. Patients with a defibrillator implant from the year 2010 to the year 2012 were included, with functional device, clinical history and availability of follow-up until the first quarter of 2014. Results: a total of 30 patients were included, with a 77% survival at four years of follow-up. 82.7% of the patients presented with ischemic heart disease and the mean left ventricular ejection fraction was 27.8 +/- 6.3. The mean time of use of the defibrillator was 2.1 years, the reported mayor danger rate was 6% for days 759 and 760. An association was found between a QRS mayor duration at 120 ms (HR = 7.7, 90% CI = 1.77-33.6, p = 0.022), atrial fibrillation (HR = 4.2, 90% CI = 1.13-15.68, p = 0.072), and beta-blockers (HR = 0.15, 90% CI = 0.03-0.64, p = 0.031) with survival time. Discussion: the prevention of death is conditioned by pharmacological optimization, as well as structural and electrical conduction anomalies, so the monitoring and adjustment of pharmacological therapy should be increased. Conclusions: the use of beta-blockers in patients with atrial fibrillation and QRS duration greater than 120 ms is a protective factor.