# The Prognostic Role of Programmed Ventricular Stimulation in the Risk Stratification of Sudden Cardiac Death

## TL;DR

This paper reviews how programmed ventricular stimulation helps predict sudden cardiac death risk in patients with heart disease.

## Contribution

The paper provides a comprehensive review of programmed ventricular stimulation's role in sudden cardiac death risk stratification.

## Key findings

- Programmed ventricular stimulation is included in international guidelines for sudden cardiac death risk assessment.
- Non-invasive risk indexes have limited effectiveness in stratifying risk among asymptomatic patients.
- PVS is historically used for SCD risk in acquired or inherited cardiac diseases.

## Abstract

Sudden cardiac death (SCD) is one of the leading causes of cardiovascular death
in general population. SCD primary prevention requires the correct selection of
patients at increased risk who may benefit from implantable
cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD). Despite several non-invasive arrhythmic risk
indexes are available, their ability to stratify the SCD risk among asymptomatic
patients with cardiac disease at increased arrhythmic risk is debated. The
programmed ventricular stimulation (PVS) is an invasive approach historically
used for SCD risk stratification in patients with acquired or inherited cardiac
disease and is currently included in international guidelines. Aim of this review
is to summarize all available data about the role of PVS for the SCD risk
stratification in different clinical settings.