Publications [#197813] of Daniel B. Mark

Papers Published

1. B Olshansky, JE Poole, G Johnson, J Anderson, AS Hellkamp, D Packer, DB Mark, KL Lee, GH Bardy, SCD-HeFT Investigators, Syncope predicts the outcome of cardiomyopathy patients: analysis of the SCD-HeFT study., Journal of the American College of Cardiology, vol. 51 no. 13 (April, 2008), pp. 1277-82, ISSN 1558-3597 [doi]
   (last updated on 2011/11/29)

   Abstract:
   OBJECTIVE: The outcome of congestive heart failure (CHF) patients with syncope is understood incompletely. BACKGROUND: We analyzed data from patients enrolled in the SCD-HeFT (Sudden Cardiac Death Heart Failure Trial) to determine whether syncope predicted outcomes in patients with CHF. METHODS: We compared outcomes (and associated clinical characteristics) in patients with and without syncope enrolled in SCD-HeFT. RESULTS: In SCD-HeFT, 162 (6%) patients had syncope before randomization, 356 (14%) had syncope after randomization (similar incidence in each randomized arm), and 46 (2%) had syncope before and after randomization. A QRS duration >or=120 ms and absence of beta-blocker use predicted syncope during follow-up (hazard ratio [HR] 1.30 and 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.06 to 1.61, p = 0.014 and HR 1.25, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.56, p = 0.048, respectively). Syncope recurrence did not differ by randomization arm. However, in the implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) arm, syncope, before and after randomization, was associated with appropriate ICD discharges (HR 1.75, 95% CI 1.10 to 2.80, p = 0.019 and HR 2.91, 95% CI 1.89 to 4.47, p = 0.001, respectively). Post-randomization syncope predicted total and cardiovascular death (HR 1.41, 95% CI 1.13 to 1.76, p = 0.002 and HR 1.55, 95% CI 1.19 to 2.02, p = 0.001, respectively). The elevated relative risk of mortality for syncope versus non-syncope patients did not vary significantly across treatment arms (ICD, HR 1.54, 95% CI 1.04 to 2.27; amiodarone, HR 1.33, 95% CI 0.91 to 1.93; and placebo, HR 1.39, 95% CI 0.96 to 2.02, test for difference p = 0.86). CONCLUSIONS: For CHF patients with ICDs, syncope was associated with appropriate ICD activations. Syncope was associated with increased mortality risk in SCD-HeFT regardless of treatment arm (placebo, amiodarone, or ICD).

   Keywords:
   Adult • Amiodarone • Anti-Arrhythmia Agents • Cardiomyopathies • Death, Sudden, Cardiac* • Defibrillators, Implantable • Female • Health Status • Heart Failure • Humans • Male • Middle Aged • Myocardial Ischemia • Predictive Value of Tests • Prognosis • Recurrence • Risk • Risk Factors • Stroke Volume • Syncope • Time Factors • Treatment Outcome • drug therapy* • etiology • mortality • mortality* • prevention & control • therapeutic use*