EMPIRIC Study Shows Strategic ICD Programming Reduces Shocks

A recent study has shown physician use of a prescribed set of highly sophisticated ICD heart rhythm detection and therapy parameters can help reduce the proportion of fast heart rhythm episodes shocked with high-energy electrical therapy in people with an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD).

The EMPIRIC study compared the proportion of fast heart rhythm episodes shocked using two ICD programming approaches: a strategically chosen (empiric) collection of parameters intended to optimally leverage advanced Medtronic device features; and a patient-by-patient, physician-tailored programming approach. The empiric strategy resulted in a significant reduction of unscheduled hospital visits.

EMPIRIC is the first ICD trial with a primary endpoint focused on the proportion of shocks for both true ventricular tachycardia (VT)/ventricular fibrillation (VF) and true supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) episodes. The Medtronic dual-chamber ICD used in the EMPIRIC study includes advanced features designed to reduce shocks by terminating life-threatening VT/VF heart rhythm episodes with painless pacing therapy and by accurately detecting rhythm abnormalities like SVT that do not require shock therapy. The study is one element of Medtronic's comprehensive clinical strategy targeting the reduction of ICD shocks to improve care of ICD patients.