Multicentre Investigation of Novel Electrocardiogram Risk Markers in Ventricular Arrhythmia Prediction

This is a prospective open label single blinded multi-centre observational study involving a study group of patients already undergoing implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD)(including Cardiac resynchronisation therapy device (CRT-D)) implant. A standard 30-minute electrophysiological (EP) cardiac stimulation protocol will be performed at the end of the ICD implant at baseline. This EP test will be performed whilst measuring a 12-lead ECG and will be correlated with event rates to establish their effectiveness in predicting arrhythmia risk. The minimum follow up period should be 18 months and maximum of 3 years, which is how long the study is funded for. This study is not randomised as all study patients will be receiving the EP study performed at baseline. A minimum of 440 patients will be recruited to document event data at standard clinical ICD follow up intervals - equating to a maximum of 6 visits. Blinding will be maintained at the core lab were the ECG analysis will be performed by a nominated researcher who will not have details of patient health status.


Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

* Participant is willing and able to give informed consent for participation in the study
* Male or Female, aged 18 years or above
* Female participants of child bearing potential must be willing to ensure that they or their partner use effective contraception during the study
* Diagnosed with a history of ischaemic cardiomyopathy
* Stable, as define as no more than a 100% increase or a 50% decrease, dose of current regular medication as standard for patients at risk of ventricular arrhythmia for at least 4 weeks prior to study entry
* Able (in the Investigators opinion) and willing to comply with all study requirements
* Willing to allow his or her General Practitioner and consultant, if appropriate, to be notified of participation in the study
* Patients must be able to attend follow up at the study site until the study closure
* Attending for first time primary prevention ICD (including CRT-D) implantation under THE National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) criteria
* Patients must be able to read and understand English
* Stable dose of current regular medication for at least 4 weeks prior to study entry

Exclusion Criteria:

* Within 28 days since acute coronary syndrome/cardiac surgery
* Scheduled elective surgery or other procedures requiring general anaesthesia during the study: for example - awaiting coronary revascularisation
* Female participants who are pregnant, lactating or planning pregnancy during the course of the study
* Contraindications for electrophysiological study

  * Haemodynamic instability
  * Severe valvular heart disease as define by British Society of Echocardiography (BSE) guidelines
  * Symptomatic coronary artery disease (unstable or refractory angina)
  * Stroke within the last 12 months
* Significant renal disease stage i.e. Chronic Kidney Disease stage 5 (requiring renal replacement therapy and / or Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) \<15), or severe liver disease (end stage or presence of cirrhosis)
* Participants who have participated in another research study involving an investigational product in the past 12 weeks
* Undergone ICD implantation where the right ventricular lead is non-apically positioned e.g. positioned septally
* Clinically judged by a cardiologist to require a ventricular tachycardia (VT) therapy zone less than or equal to 200 bpm
* Any other significant disease or disorders which, in the opinion of the Investigator, may either put the participants at risk because of participation in the study, or may influence the result of the study, or the participant's ability to participate in the study. Specific concerns should be discussed with the Chief / Co - Investigators
* Any other interventional research