Published online Dec 26, 2018. doi: 10.4330/wjc.v10.i12.250
Peer-review started: September 13, 2018
First decision: October 16, 2018
Revised: October 23, 2018
Accepted: November 15, 2018
Article in press: November 15, 2018
Published online: December 26, 2018
Processing time: 104 Days and 18.4 Hours
Sudden arrhythmic cardiac death remains a significant, potentially reversible, cardiological challenge in terms of creating accurate risk prediction models. The current guidelines for implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) therapy are mainly based on left ventricular ejection fraction despite its low sensitivity and specificity in predicting sudden cardiac death (SCD). Chronic total occlusions have been associated with increased mortality but further research is required to clarify if they should be incorporated in a risk model predicting SCD aiming to identify patients that would benefit from ICD therapy even with preserved ejection fraction.
Core tip: Further research is necessary in order to clarify if chronic total occlusion can be incorporated in a risk prediction model of sudden cardiac death aiming to identify patients that would benefit from implantable cardioverter defibrillator.