SCD in patients with cardiomyopathy: Use of microvolt T-wave alternans and other noninvasive tests for risk stratification and prevention of SCD

Opinion statementBased on current guidelines, most electrophysiologists today are implanting cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) using a low left ventricular ejection fraction alone as the sole stratifier for the risk of sudden cardiac death. However, left ventricular ejection fraction is a better marker of total mortality than sudden death. As a result, this strategy is flawed because it exposes many patients to the risk and cost of ICD therapy …