Swiss national cardiac device registry: changing trends in pacemaker and ICD procedures over the last two decades
Authors: Molitor N , Auricchio A , Delacretaz E , Domenichini G , Kuehne M , Menafoglio A , Namdar M , Reek S , Reichlin T , Zimmerli M , Sticherling C H , Duru F 
Published: May 2024

Background

The Swiss National Device and Ablation Registry (SwissEPnet) provides a comprehensive database for cardiac pacemaker and ICD procedures. All Swiss centers performing device implantations are obliged to provide their data in this web-based platform. The purpose of this study was to provide an in-depth look at pacemaker and Implantable -defibrillator (ICD) statistics and changing trends over the course of the last 20 years.

Methods and Results

We analyzed the database of pacemaker and ICD procedures between January 1, 2003, and December 31, 2022. During the study period, a total of 124 458 pacemaker and cardiac resynchronization (CRT) procedures (mean age 77.7 years; 59.7% male) were performed in 73 centers while 29 133 ICDs and CRT-D procedures (mean age 63.63 years; 80.2 % male) were performed in 56 centers in Switzerland. While the number of pacemaker procedures doubled in 20 years and there has been a constant increase in the mean age of patients receiving a pacemaker, the number of ICD procedures has more than tripled and now plateaued with a mean age which remained stable over time. Throughout the study period, the main indications for de novo pacemaker implantations were AV block in 41.7% of patients, followed by sick sinus syndrome combined with tachy-bradycardia syndrome (29.6%) and atrial fibrillation (AF) with slow ventricular conduction (13.7%). The main indication for ICD implantation was primary preventive (66.7%). Since 2016 there has been a decline in primary preventive interventions. Fluoroscopy and procedure durations remained stable over time in pacemaker and ICD procedures. Newer technologies, such as leadless pacemakers and CRT procedures required more fluoroscopy time, but this has also decreased over time. While regular battery changes remained stable (80% in pacemakers, 68% in ICDs), the proportion of DDD and CRT upgrades has increased. The overall reintervention rate due to device-associated infections was 2.4% in pacemaker- and 2.8% in ICD procedures. Since 2013, there has been a steady increase in lead removals/extractions, which were performed mainly due to device-related infections, but also because of lead dysfunctions and worsening electrical parameters.

Conclusions

In the last 20 years, there was a pronounced increase in the number of pacemaker procedures and a marked increase in the number of ICD procedures which has plateaued now. In younger technologies there is decreasing trend in fluoroscopy time by stable procedure times. Overall, there is a constant increase in mean age of patients receiving a pacemaker, while the mean age of patients receiving an ICD did not change during follow up. Female patients are constantly younger and undergo ICD implantation significantly less often than men. Despite of a stable infection rate, there has been a significant increase in lead removal and extractions in Switzerland.