CARDIOVASCULAR MEDICINE

The implantable cardioverter-defibrillator: postcode prescribing in the UK 1998–2002

A D Cunningham¹, C J Plummer², J M McComb², S W Lord, M W Cunningham¹, J-M Toussaint³, A F Rickards¹

¹ National Pacemaker and ICD Database, UK
² Department of Cardiology, Freeman Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
³ International Health Market Trends, France

Correspondence to:
Dr David Cunningham
PO Box 9205, Bridge of Weir, Renfrewshire PA11 3DZ, UK; david{at}ccad.nildram.co.uk

Objective: To determine the rate of implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) implantation across the UK during the period 1998 to 2002.

Design: Observational self reporting with cross checking.

Setting: All ICD implanting centres coordinated by the National Pacemaker and ICD Database.

Patients: Every patient receiving an ICD in the UK from 1998 to 2002.

Main outcome measures: Date of implantation and postcode of each ICD recipient during the study period.

Results: ICD implantation increased in the UK in the five year period studied but fell far short of the European average and national targets. Implantation rates varied greatly by region.

Conclusions: The low rate of ICD implantation in the UK and the disparity between regions require further study to determine the barriers to this evidence based treatment.

Keywords: ICD; implantable cardioverter-defibrillator

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