Arrhythmias & electrophysiologyCohort study
Outcomes for patients implanted with a cardioverter-defibrillator at <19 years of age: a Swedish national study
- Retrospective cohort study
- nationwide
Authors' conclusion
Appropriate shocks were more than twice as common in the youngest patient group, whereas adverse events were not more frequent than in the older patient group. Inadequate medication and lack of compliance were common in connection with ICD shocks.
Study context
- Population
- Paediatric implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) patients (<19 years) in Sweden, 1995–2017
- Participants
- 120 patients
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Survival without appropriate shocks · 5 years
Estimated 5-year survival without appropriate shocks
68% (CI 59-78)
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Incidence of paediatric ICD implantations in Sweden
per 100 000 person-years
- Peak incidence, 2010-13
- 0.56
- Incidence, 2018-21
- 0.45
Medication and compliance in patients with shocks
- Inappropriate shocks adequately medicated with good compliance
- 46%
- Inadequate medication and insufficient compliance common in patients with shocks
Safety
Adverse events
- Lower weight at implantation not a risk factor for adverse events
Original publication
Outcomes for patients implanted with a cardioverter-defibrillator at &lt;19 years of age: a Swedish national study. Europace. Published 11 December 2025. doi:10.1093/europace/euaf317
Summarised from the published abstract; every number is checked against it