Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Observational Study
. 2018 Nov;41(11):1480-1486.
doi: 10.1002/clc.23091. Epub 2018 Oct 19.

Rehospitalizations for complications and mortality following pacemaker implantation: A retrospective cohort study in an older population

Marianne H Gillam  1 , Nicole L Pratt  1 , Maria C S Inacio  1 , Sepehr Shakib  2 , Prashanthan Sanders  3 , Dennis H Lau  3 , Elizabeth E Roughead  1
Affiliations
Observational Study

Rehospitalizations for complications and mortality following pacemaker implantation: A retrospective cohort study in an older population

Marianne H Gillam et al. Clin Cardiol. 2018 Nov.

Abstract

Introduction: A large number of older people receive pacemakers each year but broad population-based studies that describe complications following pacemaker implantation in this population are lacking.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study using data from the Australian Government Department of Veterans' Affairs database. The cohort consisted of patients who received a pacemaker from 2005 to 2014. The outcomes were subsequent rehospitalizations for infections, procedure-related complications, thromboembolism, cardiovascular events (heart failure, myocardial infarction, and atrial fibrillation), and reoperation of pacemaker, and mortality.

Results: There were 10 883 pacemakers recipients, the median age was 86 years (interquartile range 83-89), 61% were males, and 74% received a dual-chamber pacemaker. Within 90 days postdischarge, rehospitalizations were occasioned by pacemaker infection in 0.5%, device-related complications in 1.5%, cerebral infarction in 0.7%, and heart failure in 6% of single-chamber pacemaker recipients. In dual-chamber pacemaker recipients rehospitalizations were occasioned by pacemaker infection in 0.4%, septicemia in 0.4%, device-related complications in 1.2%, cerebral infarction in 0.3%, and heart failure in 3%. Rehospitalizations for pacemaker adjustment occurred in 1.5% of patients. The 90-day postdischarge mortality was 5% and 3% in patients with single- and dual-chamber pacemaker, respectively.

Conclusion: Rehospitalizations for infection, procedure-related complications, or thromboembolism occurred in 1% to 2% of patients within 90 days postdischarge, while 10% of single chamber and 7% of dual-chamber recipients experienced a rehospitalization for a cardiovascular event.

Keywords: complications; mortality; older population; pacemaker implantation; rehospitalization.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

P.S. reports having served on the advisory board of Biosense‐Webster, Medtronic, St Jude Medical, Boston Scientific and CathRx. P.S. reports that the University of Adelaide has received on his behalf lecture and/or consulting fees from Biosense‐Webster, Medtronic, St Jude Medical, and Boston Scientific. P.S. reports that the University of Adelaide has received on his behalf research funding from Medtronic, St Jude Medical, Boston Scientific, Biotronik, and LivaNova. D.H.L. reports having received research funding from St Jude Medical and having received lecture/or consulting fees from St Jude Medical, Boehringer Ingelheim, and Pfizer. None of the other authors report conflicts of interest that are directly relevant to the content of this study.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Single‐chamber pacemakers: proportion of recipients who died or were rehospitalized for complications within 30 and 90 days postdischarge
Figure 2
Figure 2
Dual‐chamber pacemakers: proportion of recipients who died or were rehospitalized for complications within 30 and 90 days postdischarge
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Mond HG, Proclemer A. The 11th world survey of cardiac pacing and implantable cardioverter‐defibrillators: calendar year 2009‐‐a World Society of Arrhythmia's project. Pacing Clin Electrophysiol. 2011;34(8):1013‐1027. - PubMed
    1. Mond HG, Crozier I. The Australian and New Zealand cardiac pacemaker and implantable cardioverter‐defibrillator survey: calendar year 2013. Heart Lung Circ. 2015;24(3):291‐297. - PubMed
    1. Brignole M, Auricchio A, Baron‐Esquivias G, et al. 2013 ESC guidelines on cardiac pacing and cardiac resynchronization therapy: the task force on cardiac pacing and resynchronization therapy of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC). Developed in collaboration with the European Heart Rhythm Association (EHRA). Europace. 2013;15(8):1070‐1118. - PubMed
    1. Kirkfeldt RE, Johansen JB, Nohr EA, Jorgensen OD, Nielsen JC. Complications after cardiac implantable electronic device implantations: an analysis of a complete, nationwide cohort in Denmark. Eur Heart J. 2014;35(18):1186‐1194. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Eberhardt F, Bode F, Bonnemeier H, et al. Long term complications in single and dual chamber pacing are influenced by surgical experience and patient morbidity. Heart. 2005;91(4):500‐506. - PMC - PubMed

Publication types

MeSH terms