[Spanish pacemaker registry. Eighth official report of the Spanish Society of Cardiology Working Group on Cardiac Pacing (2010)].

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES

Our aim is to describe the analysis of the pacemaker implants and replacements reported to the Spanish Pacemaker Registry in 2010, with special reference to the selection of pacing modes.

METHODS

Data collection was based on the information provided by the European Pacemaker Patient Identification Card, which was processed using a specially designed computer application.

RESULTS

Information was received from 101 hospitals, covering a total of 11 648 cards. An estimated 738 pacemaker generators per million population were placed in 2010. The number of pacemaker implantations is higher and the mean age of the recipients lower among men. Overall, 95.5% of the pacemaker leads used were bipolar, 56% employed an active fixation system, and 60% were placed in atrium. The most common electrocardiographic indication was atrioventricular block, followed by sick sinus syndrome. Twenty-four percent of the patients with atrioventricular block and 25.6% of those with sick sinus syndrome are being paced in VVI/R mode (12% of the patients in each group are aged 80 years or under). Cardiac resynchronization device implantation has reached the level of 47 units per million population, 25.7% of which are not associated with implantable cardioverter defibrillators.

CONCLUSIONS

The upward trend in the use of pacemaker generators continues. The pacemaker leads used are predominantly bipolar, and the majority are active fixation leads. Age remains a factor in the choice of the appropriate pacing mode for the different types of heart disease. This choice could be improved in more than 20% of the cases of pacemaker implantation.