DOW JONES NEWSWIRES
Boston Scientific Corp. (BSX) released study results Tuesday
that show that implantable cardioverter defibrillators were
associated with a 44% reduction in death when implanted in patients
following a heart attack.
The study could give a boost to an industry that has been
growing at a single-digit rate globally and takes in some $6
billion in annual revenue.
The results, presented at the annual European Society of
Cardiology Congress in Barcelona, also indicated lower death levels
following ICD implantation for high-risk patients with severely
reduced heart function.
ICDs shock hearts to stop potentially deadly rhythm problems.
Boston Scientific noted heart-attack survivors have a higher
subsequent risk for sudden cardiac death.
German professor Heinz Voller, who presented the data at the
conference, said it provides "real-world confirmation of the
findings of randomized clinical trials that have shown ICDs reduce
mortality following a heart attack."
He also raised concern that the study showed just 22% of
patients in the highest-risk group - reduced heart-pumping capacity
- were prescribed ICD therapy after a heart attack. "This is a
significant concern because the mortality reduction associated with
an ICD was greatest among these patients," said Voller.
The study looked at 10,612 heart-attack survivors in Germany
between 2002 and 2005.
-By Kevin Kingsbury, Dow Jones Newswires; 212-416-2354;
kevin.kingsbury@dowjones.com