Tracking heart device effectiveness in preventing sudden cardiac death

PROSe-ICD is a long-term observational study that tracks patients who have received an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) — a small device placed under the skin that monitors your heart rhythm and delivers a shock if a dangerous rhythm is detected. Researchers will follow you over time to see how well the device works at preventing sudden cardiac death and to identify which patients benefit most from the device.

Doctors know that ICDs can save lives in people at high risk for sudden cardiac death, but they want to understand more about which patients actually need the device to work (meaning their device delivers a shock) and what factors affect whether the device is effective. This study will help improve how doctors decide who should get an ICD and how to program it best.