Arrhythmias & electrophysiology
Importance of Systematic Diagnostic Testing in Idiopathic Ventricular Fibrillation: Results From the Dutch Idiopathic Ventricular Fibrillation (iVF) Registry
Main finding · Alternative diagnosis during follow-upResult — go to the resultHazard ratio 0.439 95% CI 0.219–0.878Authors' conclusion
Although adherence to (near) complete diagnostic testing in this population of iVF patients increased over the years, patients with iVF still undergo varying levels of diagnostic evaluation. The latter leads to initial underdiagnosis of alternative conditions and is associated with a worse prognosis.
Study context
- Population
- Patients with idiopathic VF (iVF) from 11 secondary and tertiary hospitals in the Netherlands
- Participants
- 423 patients11 hospitals
- Exposure
- Consistent high-yield diagnostic testing vs not, in initial work-up
- Outcome
- Alternative diagnosis during follow-up
- Follow-up
- Median 6 years (IQR 2-12)
Methodological detailsmulticentre, Median age at index event 40 years (IQR 28-52); 61% men
- Multicentre
- Median age at index event 40 years (IQR 28-52); 61% men
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Hazard ratio
0.439
95% CI 0.219–0.878
P = 0.020
High-yield testingvs No consistent high-yield testing
HR 0.439 (95% CI 0.219–0.878); P = 0.020
- Alternative diagnosis during follow-up (all iVF patients)
- 38 (9%)
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Mean
| Outcome | 2000-2010 | 2011-2021 | P value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Use of high-yield diagnostic tests over time | 68% | 75% | P < 0.001 |
Prognosis with vs without alternative diagnosis during follow-up
- Worse prognosis for cardiac death with alternative diagnosis
- P = 0.012
- Trend toward more ICD therapy with alternative diagnosis
- P = 0.055
Parts of this Brief are withheld: the automatic checks could not confirm them against the abstract.
Original publication
Importance of Systematic Diagnostic Testing in Idiopathic Ventricular Fibrillation: Results From the Dutch iVF Registry. JACC Clin Electrophysiol. Published 30 November 2022. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →