Researchers suggest patients with heart devices, such as pacemakers and defibrillators, face twice the risk of infection compared to the 1990s, according to U.S. News and World Report.
Researchers from The Jefferson Heart Institute utilized data from hospital discharge records and found that infections associated with cardiac electrophysiological devices (including permanent pacemakers and implantable cardioverter defibrillators) increased 210 percent from 1993-2008.
The researchers also found the increased infections aligned with an increase in the number of patients who had heart devices as well as other comorbities, including kidney failure, heart failure, diabetes and respiratory failure, according to the report. The researchers concluded the increased risk of infection among CIED patient was attributable to sicker patients.
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Researchers from The Jefferson Heart Institute utilized data from hospital discharge records and found that infections associated with cardiac electrophysiological devices (including permanent pacemakers and implantable cardioverter defibrillators) increased 210 percent from 1993-2008.
The researchers also found the increased infections aligned with an increase in the number of patients who had heart devices as well as other comorbities, including kidney failure, heart failure, diabetes and respiratory failure, according to the report. The researchers concluded the increased risk of infection among CIED patient was attributable to sicker patients.
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