Evaluation of a novel automatic screening tool for determining eligibility for a subcutaneous implantable cardioverter-defibrillator

The manufacturer has developed a new ECG screening tool to determine eligibility for the subcutaneous ICD (S-ICD), the “automatic screening tool” (AST), which may render manual ECG-screening unnecessary. The aim of the study was to determine the eligibility for the S-ICD using two methods (manual ECG-screening versus AST) in different patient categories including patients with cardiomyopathy, congenital heart disease and inherited primary arrhythmia syndrome. We prospectively evaluated the ECG suitability for an S-ICD in consecutive patients at our outpatient clinic between February and June 2017. The primary endpoint of the study was ECG eligibility defined as at least 1 successful vector in both supine and sitting postures. A total of 254 patients (167 men; mean age 45 ± 16 years) were screened using both methods. Overall, there was a high ECG eligibility using either method (93% versus 92%, P = 0.45). Overall agreement between both methods was 94%. Patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) more often had a failed screening test using either test in comparison to the patients without HCM (manual: odds ratio [OR] 3.3, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.2–9.3, P = 0.02; AST: OR 3.0, 95% CI 1.2–7.6, P = 0.02). AST showed a high agreement with manual ECG-screening for S-ICD. Overall there was a high ECG eligibility for S-ICD, although patients with HCM had a lower passing rate irrespective of the screening method. •The automatic screening tool has a high agreement with manual ECG-screening to determine eligibility for a subcutaneous ICD.•The automatic screening tool is an appropriate alternative to manual ECG-screening•Failed ECG-screening is more often in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy irrespective of the screening method.•The eligibility rate for a subcutaneous ICD is not different between patients with and without an ICD indication.