Study possibilities get hearts racing
A STUDY headed by a local cardiac scientist will have potentially lifesaving results.
Nathan Engstrom will undertake a research study to explore a new system for selecting patients who require an implantable cardioverterdefibrillator (ICD) to prevent a cardiac arrest after suffering heart failure.
Mr Engstrom will combine 20 years’ experience as a cardiac scientist with a $70,000
Study, Education and Research Trust Account (SERTA) grant to complete the study.
“The study was born from my observations of Townsville University Hospital patients who had experienced heart failure and then had an ICD implanted,” Mr Engstrom said.
An ICD is a battery-powered device, placed under a patient’s skin, that keeps track of a person’s heart rate and if an abnormal heart rhythm (arrhythmia) is de
tected, the device will deliver an electric shock to restore a normal heartbeat.
Mr Engstrom said he had seen a lot of patients fitted with an ICD during his time working in the device clinic, but some had not experienced an arrhythmia post-implant.
“This means an ICD may not be the most appropriate type of care for their condition as they have lifelong implications for our patients,” Mr Engstrom said.
“And, if there is minimal risk of an arrhythmia post
implant, there is little benefit aside from being a precautionary, but potentially lifesaving, measure.”
He said patients with ICDS required lifelong appointments and hospital care, with a small risk of the device being tricked, causing it to give an electric shock when it’s not needed.
The device must also be replaced every few years through an “invasive” surgery.
Mr Engstrom said that in his 2020 pilot study, it was found that only 20 per cent of
people with an ICD benefited from the device fixing their ventricular arrhythmia, and another 14 per cent had some form of inappropriate therapy from the device.
He said without the support of Townsville Hospital and Health Service’s SERTA grants, he would not be able to undertake this PHD.
“My goal is to have a research paper that eventually leads to an improved patient experience by exploring new methods for determining who needs an ICD,” he said.