Clinical Course and Quality of Life in High-Risk Patients with Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy and Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillators

In hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, the implantable defibrillator has become a highly effective therapy for terminating ventricular tachyarrhythmias and preventing sudden death. Clinical course after an appropriate device intervention is not known. In contrast to experience with ischemic heart disease, defibrillator interventions in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy are not followed by an increase in cardiovascular morbidity or mortality caused by heart failure deterioration or sudden death. Device therapy in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy does not significantly impair overall psychological well-being or quality of life.