Skip Navigation



European Heart Journal Advance Access published online on August 3, 2006
European Heart Journal, doi:10.1093/eurheartj/ehl166
This Article
Right arrow Full Text (Rapid PDF)
Right arrow All Versions of this Article:
28/4/392    most recent
ehl166v1
Right arrow E-letters: Submit a response
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when E-letters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Add to My Personal Archive
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowRequest Permissions
Right arrow Disclaimer
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Camm, J.
Right arrow Articles by Nisam, S.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Camm, J.
Right arrow Articles by Nisam, S.
Social Bookmarking
Add to CiteULike   Add to Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us  
What's this?

European Heart Journal © The European Society of Cardiology 2006; all rights reserved
Received April 28, 2006
Accepted July 6, 2006

Review

The cost of implantable defibrillators: perceptions and reality

John Camm 1 *, Helmut Klein 2, and Seah Nisam 3

1 St George's University of London, Cranmer Terrace, London SW17 0RE, UK
2 Otto-von-Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany
3 Guidant Europe, 1831 Diegem (Brussels), Belgium

* To whom correspondence should be addressed.
John Camm, E-mail: jcamm{at}sgul.ac.uk


  Abstract

Aims Recent guidelines have recommended more wide-ranging indications for the use of implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) therapy, yet even more restrained previous guidelines have not been implemented for a variety of reasons.

Methods and results This brief review critically examines the reasons most frequently put forward to explain this failure. Contrary to the frequently repeated speculation that the risk stratification for sudden death and hence prophylactic placement of ICDs is reasonably accurate, there is little cost difference between pharmacotherapy and ICD treatment over the long term. ICD therapy does not utilize an undue proportion of the healthcare budget, and the healthcare systems in Europe can afford this therapy.

Conclusion Financial reasons are neither accurate nor adequate explanations for the failure of the European medical community to implement European guidelines for the implantation of ICDs for primary and secondary prevention of sudden cardiac death.

Keywords: ICD; Sudden death; Health economics; Cost-efficacy.
Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us    What's this?


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Eur J Heart FailHome page
D. J. van Veldhuisen, A. H. Maass, S. G. Priori, P. Stolt, I. C. van Gelder, K. Dickstein, and K. Swedberg
Implementation of device therapy (cardiac resynchronization therapy and implantable cardioverter defibrillator) for patients with heart failure in Europe: changes from 2004 to 2008
Eur J Heart Fail, November 1, 2009; (2009) hfp149v1.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Eur J Heart FailHome page
K. Swedberg, J. Cleland, M. R. Cowie, M. Nieminen, S. G. Priori, L. Tavazzi, D. J. van Veldhuisen, L. Alonso-Pulpon, J. Camm, K. Dickstein, et al.
Successful treatment of heart failure with devices requires collaboration
Eur J Heart Fail, December 1, 2008; 10(12): 1229 - 1235.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 EuropaceHome page
M. Biffi, M. Ziacchi, M. Bertini, D. Sangiorgi, D. Corsini, C. Martignani, I. Diemberger, and G. Boriani
Longevity of implantable cardioverter-defibrillators: implications for clinical practice and health care systems
Europace, November 1, 2008; 10(11): 1288 - 1295.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 EuropaceHome page
J. B. Johansen, S. S. Pedersen, H. Spindler, K. Andersen, J. C. Nielsen, and P. T. Mortensen
Symptomatic heart failure is the most important clinical correlate of impaired quality of life, anxiety, and depression in implantable cardioverter-defibrillator patients: a single-centre, cross-sectional study in 610 patients
Europace, May 1, 2008; 10(5): 545 - 551.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Eur Heart JHome page
H. Heidbuchel
The cost of implantable defibrillators: how the perception of reality depends on perspective
Eur. Heart J., February 2, 2007; 28(4): 386 - 387.
[Full Text] [PDF]


Disclaimer: Please note that abstracts for content published before 1996 were created through digital scanning and may therefore not exactly replicate the text of the original print issues. All efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, but the Publisher will not be held responsible for any remaining inaccuracies. If you require any further clarification, please contact our Customer Services Department.