The MADIT-II trial has shown that patients with severely reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) post myocardial infarction benefit from the implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD). However, retrospective analyses of the MADIT-II data have revealed a significantly increased morbidity and mortality in patients with appropriate ICD therapy: Appropriate ICD therapy is associated with 3.3-fold increased all-cause mortality, and the risk of a first heart failure hospitalization is 90% higher after 1st appropriate ICD therapy. Hence, the 1st appropriate therapy might indicate the necessity and utility of further clinical diagnostics and therapy in these patients.
This trial is designed to (i) improve the knowledge of the group characteristics of patients suffering from 1st appropriate ICD therapy, (ii) but moreover to take additional therapeutic steps to reduce the mortality of this patient population.
Who can participate
Age range
18 Years
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion Criteria:
* Indication for ICD implantation according to MADIT-II:
* Myocardial infarction 30 days or more before implantation
* LVEF of 30% or less within 3 months before implantation
* Angiography within the preceding 12 months
* The patient is willing and able to comply with the clinical investigation plan and has provided written informed consent
Exclusion Criteria:
* Patients with contraindication for ICD implantation
* Conventional ICD indication (i.e. other than MADIT-II)
* Myocardial infarction within the past 30 days
* Coronary revascularisation within the preceding 3 months (i.e., if revascularization has been performed wait at least 3 months until enrolment, given that no appropriate/ inappropriate ICD therapy has occured)
* NYHA functional class IV
* Unexplained syncope within 3 years
* Advanced cerebrovascular disease
* Life expectancy very probably below 12 months
* Pregnant or breast-feeding women
* Age \< 18 years
* Patients who are already enrolled in another study (therapy/intervention phase)
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.