Background: The pacemaker (PM) and implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) Registry of the Italian Association of Arrhythmology and Cardiac Pacing (AIAC) monitors the main epidemiological data in real-world practice. The survey for the 2018 activity collects information about demographics, clinical characteristics, main indications for PM/ICD therapy and device types from the Italian collaborating centers.
Methods: The Registry collects prospectively national PM and ICD implantation activity on the basis of European cards.
Results: PM Registry: data about 23 912 PM implantations were collected (20 084 first implants and 3828 replacements). The number of collaborating centers was 180. Median age of treated patients was 81 years (75 quartile I; 86 quartile III). ECG indications included atrioventricular conduction disorders in 34.5% of first PM implants, sick sinus syndrome in 18.3%, atrial fibrillation plus bradycardia in 13.0%, other in 34.2%. Among atrioventricular conduction defects, third-degree atrioventricular block was the most common type (19.2% of first implants). Use of single-chamber PMs was reported in 24.9% of first implants, of dual-chamber PMs in 67.6%, of PMs with cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) in 1.6%, and of single lead atrial-synchronized ventricular stimulation (VDD/R PMs) in 5.9%. ICD Registry: data about 18 353 ICD implantations were collected (13 944 first implants and 4359 replacements). The number of collaborating centers was 433. Median age of treated patients was 71 years (63 quartile I; 78 quartile III). Primary prevention indication was reported in 84.3% of first implants, secondary prevention in 15.7% (cardiac arrest in 5.3%). A single-chamber ICD was used in 27.9% of first implants, dual-chamber ICD in 31.9% and biventricular ICD in 40.2%.
Conclusions: The PM and ICD Registry appears fundamental for monitoring PM and ICD utilization on a large national scale with rigorous examination of demographics and clinical indications. The PM Registry showed stable electrocardiographic and symptom indications, with an important prevalence of dual-chamber pacing. The use of CRT-PM regards a very limited number of patients. The ICD Registry documented a large use of prophylactic and biventricular ICD, reflecting a favorable adherence to trials and guidelines in clinical practice. In order to increase and optimize the cooperation of Italian implanting centers, online data entry (http://www.aiac.it/riprid) should be adopted at large scale.