Impact of Different Pharmacotherapies on Long-Term Outcomes in Patients with Electrical Storm

Pharmacology. 2019;103(3-4):179-188. doi: 10.1159/000496228. Epub 2019 Jan 29.

Abstract

Objective: The study sought to assess the long-term prognostic impact of different pharmacotherapies, including angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor-inhibitor/angiotensin receptor blocker (ACEi/ARB), statins, and amiodarone in patients with electrical storm (ES).

Background: Data regarding the outcome of patients with ES is limited.

Methods: Consecutive patients with ES from 2002 to 2016 were included. Patients on ACEi/ARB were compared to patients without ACEi/ARB, respectively, for statin and amiodarone therapy. The primary prognostic endpoint was all-cause mortality at 4 years. Secondary endpoints comprised ES recurrences, rehospitalization, and major adverse cardiac events (MACE) at 4 years. Kaplan-Meier survival curves and multivariable Cox regression analyses were applied.

Results: A total of 84 consecutive patients surviving episodes of ES was included. Beta-blocker was given in 95%, ACEi/ARB in 80%, statin in 60%, and amiodarone in 54%. ACEi/ARB patients were associated with improved all-cause mortality at 4 years (mortality rate 34 vs. 65%, log rank p = 0.018; HR 0.428; 95% CI 0.208-0.881; p = 0.021), as well as improved freedom from MACE. In contrast, statin and amiodarone therapy had no impact on long-term outcomes in ES patients.

Conclusion: ACEi/ARB therapy is associated with improved survival and MACE in patients with ES, whereas statins and amiodarone therapy had no impact on long-term prognostic endpoints.

Keywords: Amiodarone; Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor; Beta-blocker; Electrical storm; Implantable cardioverter-defibrillator; Mortality; Statin.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Observational Study

MeSH terms

  • Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / therapeutic use
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Amiodarone / therapeutic use
  • Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers / therapeutic use
  • Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / therapeutic use
  • Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / adverse effects
  • Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Arrhythmias, Cardiac / diagnosis
  • Arrhythmias, Cardiac / drug therapy*
  • Arrhythmias, Cardiac / mortality
  • Arrhythmias, Cardiac / physiopathology
  • Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy Devices
  • Defibrillators, Implantable
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / therapeutic use
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Patient Readmission
  • Recurrence
  • Registries
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Risk Factors
  • Time Factors
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Adrenergic beta-Antagonists
  • Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers
  • Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Anti-Arrhythmia Agents
  • Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors
  • Amiodarone