2008 Woodie Awards
Defibrillators not being used, Duke study says
Alyssa Cashman - The Daily Iowan
Issue date: 10/16/07 Section: Metro
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Nearly 65 percent of people who are eligible for an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator aren't receiving one, according to a recent study.
But UI experts say no one reason explains the discrepancy, noting that it could be anything from a lack of information about the health device to various economic barriers.
"There is some critical, fundamental issue we don't understand," said James Martins, the director of cardiac electrophysiology at the UI Hospitals and Clinics.
Conducted at Duke University, the study was published this month in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
The devices are implanted in the body to deliver a shock to the heart when a abnormal beat or no beat is detected. They can last anywhere from three to six years, said Martins, who implants the devices.
He estimated that he puts in approximately 100 defibrillators a year.
Meanwhile, Medtronic Inc., a self-proclaimed "world leader in medical technology," announced Monday that it would stop distribution of connecting wires in some of the company's defibrillators, which may have contributed to five deaths. Officials asked doctors to stop implanting and return unused leads to Medtronic for Sprint Fidelis models 6930, 6931, 6948 and 6949.
The Duke University study examined approximately 13,000 patients across the country from January 2005 to June, with all patients using the defibrillators for secondary preventative measures. In other words, they had already experienced heart failure or poor left ventricle function.
Only around 35 percent of eligible patients received the therapy, and UI experts suggest a variety of reasons for the low use.
There may be referral issues from primary physicians or the patients may simply not want the device, Martins said.
"We need to find out why the majority of people aren't being referred," he emphasized.
Frances Johnson, a UI clinical associate professor of cardiology, said one possible reason could be a lack of knowledge about the instrument. Currently, defibrillator manufacturers are developing promotional material to better inform patients.
But UI experts say no one reason explains the discrepancy, noting that it could be anything from a lack of information about the health device to various economic barriers.
"There is some critical, fundamental issue we don't understand," said James Martins, the director of cardiac electrophysiology at the UI Hospitals and Clinics.
Conducted at Duke University, the study was published this month in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
The devices are implanted in the body to deliver a shock to the heart when a abnormal beat or no beat is detected. They can last anywhere from three to six years, said Martins, who implants the devices.
He estimated that he puts in approximately 100 defibrillators a year.
Meanwhile, Medtronic Inc., a self-proclaimed "world leader in medical technology," announced Monday that it would stop distribution of connecting wires in some of the company's defibrillators, which may have contributed to five deaths. Officials asked doctors to stop implanting and return unused leads to Medtronic for Sprint Fidelis models 6930, 6931, 6948 and 6949.
The Duke University study examined approximately 13,000 patients across the country from January 2005 to June, with all patients using the defibrillators for secondary preventative measures. In other words, they had already experienced heart failure or poor left ventricle function.
Only around 35 percent of eligible patients received the therapy, and UI experts suggest a variety of reasons for the low use.
There may be referral issues from primary physicians or the patients may simply not want the device, Martins said.
"We need to find out why the majority of people aren't being referred," he emphasized.
Frances Johnson, a UI clinical associate professor of cardiology, said one possible reason could be a lack of knowledge about the instrument. Currently, defibrillator manufacturers are developing promotional material to better inform patients.
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