Arrhythmias & electrophysiology
Predicting Survival in Ventricular Tachycardia Storm
- Retrospective analysis
- 6 high-volume tertiary care centers
- multivariable logistic regression
- weighted clinical risk score development
+3 more
- 6 high-volume tertiary care centers
- multivariable logistic regression
- weighted clinical risk score development
Authors' conclusion
VT storm is associated with high risk of acute in-hospital mortality and the CHAMPS score identifies patients at highest risk. Early catheter ablation is associated with significantly improved survival across risk categories.
Study context
- Population
- Patients admitted with ventricular tachycardia (VT) storm, 2015–2024met inclusion criteria, 363 (22%) died during the index hospitalization
- Participants
- 1,675 patients
- Exposure
- Mortality rates were compared across risk strata and by timing of VT ablation
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
In-hospital mortality · index hospitalization
Died during the index hospitalization
363 (22%)
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
| Outcome | Low-risk (CHAMPS) | Moderate-risk (CHAMPS) | High-risk (CHAMPS) | Early ablation | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mortality by CHAMPS risk stratum | 6.6% | 26.7% | 60.7% | Not reported in the abstract | Early ablation: not reported in the abstract |
Independent predictors of in-hospital mortality
- acute cerebrovascular accident (OR)
- 3.9
- hypoxia resulting in intubation (OR)
- 3.8
- an admission diagnosis other than VT (OR)
- 4.1
- severe malnutrition (OR)
- 1.4
- multiple vasopressor agents (OR)
- 1.8
- sepsis or fever (OR)
- 5.0
- multivariable logistic regression
In-hospital mortality with early ablation
- early ablation within 7 days protective against in hospital mortality (OR)
- 0.01
- VT ablation was performed in 59% of patients, and early ablation within 7 days of VT storm onset was protective against in-hospital mortality (OR: 0.01), independent of CHAMPS score
Original publication
Predicting Survival in Ventricular Tachycardia Storm. JACC Clin Electrophysiol. Published 14 January 2026. doi:10.1016/j.jacep.2025.12.015
Summarised from the published abstract; every number is checked against it