Sex-differences in ventricular tachyarrhythmia events in patients with implantable cardioverter defibrillator and prior ventricular tachyarrhythmias

Abstract Background Women have been previously shown to be at a lower risk of ventricular tachyarrhythmia (VT) events in ICD trials, however, more contemporary data on the risk of VT/VF and death by sex in patients with prior VT/VF are lacking. Objective We aimed to assess sex-differences in ICD-treated VT/VF events and all-cause mortality in patients in the Ranolazine in High-Risk ICD Patients (RAID) trial. Patients were either implanted for secondary prevention or primary prevention ICD indications but experienced VT/VF before enrolment. Methods The RAID trial enrolled high-risk ICD patients with ischemic or non-ischemic cardiomyopathy, randomized to ranolazine or placebo. This analysis focused on patients with prior VT/VF. Sex-differences in VT/VF requiring ATP or shock were evaluated using Kaplan-Meier analysis, Fine and Grey, and Cox models in an intention to treat analysis. All VT/VF episodes were centrally adjudicated. Results There were 124 women (17%) out of 714 subjects analysed. Women were younger (60 vs. 65 years, p