Predictive value of rapid-rate non-sustained ventricular tachycardia in the occurrence of appropriate implantable cardioverter-defibrillator therapy

Purpose Rapid-rate non-sustained ventricular tachycardia (RR-NSVT) that meets detection criteria but terminates itself before the delivery of implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) therapy is not rare in routine ICD interrogation. Whether sustained ventricular tachycardia/fibrillation will occur in a short time after RR-NSVT has not been fully elucidated. Methods Clinical features and follow-up data of 828 ICD patients with home monitoring were retrospectively collected. RR-NSVT characteristics and time interval between the first episode of RR-NSVT and subsequent appropriate ICD therapy were analyzed. Results During a mean follow-up of 44.75 ± 20.87 months, 335 episodes of RR-NSVT were documented in 145 patients. A total of 119 patients had both RR-NSVT and appropriate ICD therapy. In multivariate COX regression models, RR-NSVT was an independent predictor of appropriate ICD therapy (HR 7.599, 95%CI 5.926–9.745, P