U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Here’s how you know
Here’s how you know

**Official websites use .gov**
A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

**Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
A **lock** ( A locked padlock) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.
Search Query:
			MAIN MENU

																				
              Health Topics
								All Health Topics A-Z
					
													
		

		Asthma


				

															Heart-Healthy Living


				

															High Blood Pressure


				

															Sickle Cell Disease


				

															Sleep Apnea


				

															Information & Resources on COVID-19
																				
              Health Education
								Education Programs and Initiatives
					
													
		

		The Heart Truth®


				

															Learn More Breathe Better®


				

															Blood Diseases and Disorders Education Program


				

															Publications and Resources
																				
              The Science
								Research Focus Areas
					
													
		

		Blood Disorders and Blood Safety


				

															Sleep Science and Sleep Disorders


				

															Lung Diseases


				

															Health Disparities and Inequities


				

															Heart and Vascular Diseases


				

															Precision Medicine Activities


				

															Obesity, Nutrition, and Physical Activity


				

															Population and Epidemiology Studies


				

															Women’s Health


				

															Research Topics


				

															Clinical Trials


				

															All Science A-Z
																				
              Grants and Training
								Grants and Training Home


				

															Policies and Guidelines


				

															Funding Opportunities and Contacts


				

															Training and Career Development
																				
              News and Events
								News and Events Home
					
													
		

		Email Alerts


				

															All News
					
													
		

		NHLBI News


				

															NHLBI in the Press


				

															Research Features


				

															All Events
					
													
		

		Past Events


				

															Upcoming Events
																				
              About NHLBI
								About NHLBI Home
					
													
		

		Mission and Strategic Vision


				

															Leadership


				

															Divisions, Offices and Centers


				

															Advisory Committees


				

															Budget and Legislative Information


				

															Jobs and Working at the NHLBI


				

															Contact and FAQs


				

															NIH Sleep Research Plan
						
						HOME
		Search Text: Home/News and Events/< Back ToAll News/The survival benefit of an implantable defibrillator for heart failure lasts at least 10 years

NHLBI IN THE PRESS
                                        
                    The survival benefit of an implantable defibrillator for heart failure lasts at least 10 years
                    
                    July 31, 2020
                                                            closeup image of a pacemaker
    People with heart failure who received an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) are more likely to be alive more than a decade later compared with those who didn’t, according to an NHLBI-funded study published in the *Journal of the American College of Cardiology*.

A previous study called the Sudden Cardiac Death in Heart Failure Trial (SCD-HeFT) found the survival benefit of an ICD persisted for up to 5 years. This new analysis looked at the 1,855 people alive at the end of the SCD-HeFT trial 11 years later. Those who had received an ICD had a 13% decreased risk of death than those who received a placebo medication.

The researchers said the analysis shows that people who get the most benefit from an ICD are those with mild heart failure symptoms, such as shortness of breath and angina or chest pain, and those with ischemic cardiomyopathy or a weakened heart muscle due to blockages in blood vessels.

However, there was no survival advantage for people with nonischemic cardiomyopathy (NICM), a weakened heart muscle that isn’t caused by blocked blood vessels. People with NICM had a survival advantage at 5 years, but by 11 years, they were no better off than those who didn’t get an ICD. Researchers aren’t sure why the survival benefit in people with NICM dropped off by the 11-year mark.
                        Media Coverage
                
    July 31, 2020
      |
            Cardiology News
                SCD-HeFT 10-year results: Primary-prevention ICD insights in nonischemic heart failure
                                                                                                
        July 20, 2020
      |
            Medpage Today
                ICDs for Primary Prevention: Survival Benefit Lasts 10 Years
                                                                                                
        July 22, 2020
      |
            Medscape Medical News
                SCD-HeFT 10-Year Results: Primary-Prevention ICD Insights in Nonischemic Heart Failure
                                                                                                
        July 24, 2020
      |
            This Week in Cardiology podcast
                ICD Effects Over the Long-term Back To Top Link
  

        

        Back to top
  Web Policies & Notices
  

        

              Accessibility
                      No FEAR Act Data
                      Privacy Policy
                      Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)
                      HHS Vulnerability Disclosure
    
          Related Government Websites
  

        

              Health and Human Services
                      National Institutes of Health
                      Office of the Inspector General
                      USA.gov
    
          Stay Connected
    
      
            chat bubblesLive ChatLive Chat with us, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. EST.envelopeGet Email AlertsReceive automatic alerts about NHLBI related news and highlights from across the Institute.
  Footer Bottom
  

        



Contact Us
                            Site Index
                            Jobs