I am a third of costly implanted heart devices unnecessary?
This year, Medicare for tens of thousands of cardiac patients to pay for high-tech devices implanted in the chest. Called ICDs or implantable defibrillators, expensive devices designed to shock damaged hearts back into rhythm and save patients from sudden cardiac death, the 300,000 Americans die each year. But a new study finds that while many of these patients will benefit from their ICDs, many used a simple test and heart rate can tell whos who. In fact, the study suggests that if the test for the majority of ICD candidates were used as much as one third of this may not help a plant without increasing their risk of sudden death.That would mean that Medicare, the extra cost of $ 90,000 lifetime of each device compared to best medical treatment to avoid.The study,
published in the January issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, is based on data from 768 patients who are candidates for ICDs based at Christ Hospital Heart and Vascular Center in Cincinnati, Ohio. All patients had survived a heart attack, but will have permanent damage to the heart muscle caused by poor circulation, a condition called ischemic cardiomyopathy. Each patient received a test called microvolt T-wave changes or MTWA, along with a battery of other tests in their evaluation.Half the patients received an ICD continue, although the MTWA test results were missing in the decision process used. The health of patients and causes of death were followed for three years.After this period the data by researchers at the University of Michigan
Cardiovascular Center and VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System were analyzed in collaboration with the team from Ohio. Overall, 67 percent of patients positive or negative MTWA test results. Among these, patients continue to receive an ICD were 55 percent less likely to die during follow-up than those who did not receive an ICD. They were also 70 percent less likely to die suddenly of a heart rhythm disorder. But at the same time, one third Pages: [1] 2 3