Predictors of Mortality in Patients With an Implantable Cardiac Defibrillator: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: Many current predictors of mortality in heart failure (HF) were evaluated before the use of implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs). We conducted a meta-analysis to identify factors associated with mortality in ICD-HF patients. METHODS: We searched in MedLine, EMBASE, and CINAHL in May 2012. Two reviewers selected citations that included ambulatory ICD patients and addressed the association between any predictor and mortality …