Unsafe Drug Use and Arrhythmic Events in Brugada Patients with ICD: Results of a Long-Term Follow-Up

Purpose

Brugada syndrome is a hereditary disease linked with an increased risk of sudden death that may require an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) in order to halt the arrhythmic events. The aim of this study was to identify possible triggers for appropriate ICD therapies in patients with Brugada syndrome, focusing on their past and current therapeutic profiles.

Methods

Thirty patients with high-risk Brugada syndrome, with ICD implanted at the Coimbra Hospital and University Center, were enrolled. Patients were questioned about their Brugada syndrome history, previous cardiac events, comorbidities, present and past medications, and physical activity. Patients were followed up during 5.8?±?5.3 years. The ICD was interrogated, and arrhythmic events and device therapies were recorded. The cohort who received appropriate ICD therapies was compared with the remaining patients to determine the potential link between clinical variables and potentially fatal arrhythmic events.

Results

More than half of the patients (53.3%) took at least one non-recommended drug, and 16.7% received appropriate ICD therapies, with a long-term rate of 4.0%/year. There was a tendency for more appropriate ICD therapies in patients who took unsafe drugs (85.7 versus 45.5%, p?=?0.062), and the mean time between unsafe drug intake and appropriate ICD therapies was 3.8?±?7.5 days.

Conclusions

This study revealed that the medical community is still unaware of the pharmacological restrictions imposed by Brugada syndrome. Patients who took non-recommended drugs seem to have a higher risk of ventricular arrhythmic events.