Background Implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) was implemented into clinical routine more than 20 years ago. Since then, ICD therapy became standard therapy for primary and secondary prevention of sudden cardiac death in clinical practice. Objectives Aim of the study was to evaluate the benefit‐harm profile of contemporary primary prophylactic ICD therapy. Methods A total of 1222 consecutive patients of a prospective single‐center ICD‐registry were analyzed who underwent primary prophylactic ICD implantation between 2000 and 2017. Patients were divided into two groups according to the implantation year: 2010‐2017 (group 1, n = 579) and 2000‐2009 (group 2, n = 643). Results The rate of estimated appropriate ICD therapy after 8 years was 51% in the 2000s and 42% in the 2010s (P < .001). The complication rate changed slightly from 53% to 47% (P = .005). This decline was mainly driven by the reduction of inappropriate ICD shocks (30% vs 14%, P < .001) whereas the rate of ICD shock lead malfunction and device/ lead infection remained unchanged over time. Nonischemic cardiomyopathy was an independent predictor for ICD complications without benefit of ICD therapy (HR 1.37, 95% CI 1.07‐1.77). Conclusion The ICD therapy rate for ventricular arrhythmias in patients with primary prophylactic ICD implantation is decreasing over the last two decades. Complication rate remains high due to an unchanged rate of ICD shock malfunctions and device infections. Nonischemic cardiomyopathy is an independent predictor for ICD complications without benefit of ICD therapy in primary prophylactic ICD‐therapy.

Background: The role of triggers in the occurrence of appropriate implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) shocks due to ventricular tachyarrhythmias is not well known. The aim of the study was to assess the prevalence of trigger factors in appropriate ICD shocks and to analyze their prognostic impact on clinical outcome.Methods: A total of 710 consecutive patients of a prospective single-center ICD-registry who received a first appropriate ICD shock between 2000 and 9/2021 were analyzed.Results: In 35% of ICD patients with first ICD shock, at least one of the following triggers was found: Ischemia (22%), Compliance (9%), Decompensation (38%), Stress (12%), Technical (5%), Electrolyte/endocrinological disorder (22%) and Medication side effects (4%). The trigger factors can be summarized under the acronym ICD-STEMi. The prospective application of the ICD-STEMi scheme increased the rate of identified triggers from 32% to 56% (p < .001). Patients with triggered first ICD shock had an increased 5-year mortality rate (50% vs. 38%, p < .001). Patients with triggers did not show different mortality outcomes or recurrent ICD shocks whether they received arrhythmia therapy or not. Conclusions:The evaluation of trigger factors after the occurrence of ICD shocks is mandatory and can be systematically evaluated using the acronym ICD-STEMi. Systematic evaluation of triggers using the ICD-STEMi scheme can identify triggers in about half of ICD patients with first appropriate ICD shock. Patients with triggered ICD shock have a 12% higher 5-year mortality rate.

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Background Alexithymic traits are quite prevalent in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) and have been linked with a heightened psychological burden including anxiety, depression, somatization and obsessive-compulsive symptoms. However, there are limited data regarding the association of alexithymia with gastrointestinal symptom severity and disease activity. Methods The current study was conducted at the Division of Gastroenterology of the University Hospital of Patras, in Greece with the collaboration of the Department of Psychiatry. Adult IBD outpatients and healthy controls were enrolled to the study. Alexithymic traits were assessed with the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20). Disease activity was assessed with the calculation of the Truelove-Witts Index for ulcerative colitis (UC) patients and the Harvey-Bradsaw Index for Crohn’s disease (CD) patients. Results 57 IBD patients and 50 healthy controls entered the study. 26 (45.6%) IBD patients reported clinically significant alexithymia traits. In addition, IBD patients faced increased difficulties in emotional expression (p=0.024) and reported increased overall alexithymic traits (p=0.033) compared to healthy controls. Moreover, we detected a borderline tendency of IBD patients to exhibit more disturbances in emotional recognition (p=0.067) compared to the control group. Difficulties in emotional recognition were significantly correlated with the presence of nausea (p=0.031), belly pain (p=0.015) and bloating (p=0.018), while overall alexithymic traits were strongly associated with the presence of nausea (p=0.008). Finally, increased disease activity was significantly associated with a higher total alexithymia score in Crohn’s disease (p=0.037) and ulcerative colitis (p=0.047) patients. Conclusion IBD patients report increased alexithymic traits which are associated with more severe gastrointestinal symptomatology and increased disease activity.

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