Long-term prognosis of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest due to idiopathic ventricular arrhythmias

Abstract

Life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias (VA) may occur in patients with unknown cardiac disease. A sizable part of them remains labeled as Idiopathic VA and limited data is available regarding their natural history. Our aim was to evaluate the long-term clinical outcomes of survivors of an idiopathic life-threatening VA. Patients who survived an idiopathic life-threatening VA referred to an ICD were included and followed for a median follow-up of 7 years. Clinical and device data were collected and a comparison between genders was made. A total of 29 patients, 41% female, mean age of 50 (19) years were studied; all were implanted with an ICD at index hospitalization. At follow-up, an etiological diagnosis was established in 38% of patients. Genetic testing improved the diagnosis and allowed the identification of a distinct clinical entity in 60% of patients (p=0.04, OR = 7.0), especially in women. Regarding ICD data, 31% received appropriate therapies with a median time to first appropriate shock of 39 months (IQR 12-46 months). Men had a significantly higher prevalence of appropriated shocks (50% vs 8%, p=0.04), with a similar time to the first arrhythmic event between genders. Two of the patients died, both from non-arrhythmic causes. Etiologic diagnosis and recurrence prediction in patients with idiopathic VA is challenging, even with long-term follow-up and sophisticated diagnostic evaluation.  Genetic testing significantly improved the diagnostic yield, especially in women. Arrhythmia recurrence occurred in about one-third of patients and is significantly higher in men, underscoring the importance of ICD implantation.