SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Cambridge Heart, Inc., a developer of non-invasive diagnostic tests for cardiac disease, today announced that new data presented at the Heart Rhythm Society’s 32nd Annual Scientific Sessions in San Francisco confirm the diagnostic value of Microvolt T-wave Alternans (MTWA) testing in identifying patients at risk of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA). The pooled analysis of 2,883 patients shows that MTWA is a statistically significant predictor of SCA in patients whose heart muscle is damaged (ejection fraction ≤ 35%), as well as those with more preserved cardiac function (ejection fraction > 35%).
“In this pooled analysis of patients without ICDs, MTWA testing is a powerful predictor of SCD in patients with a broad range of ejection fractions. In the future, prospective studies should be designed to specifically assess the value of ICD therapy in patients with a negative/positive MTWA test result,” said Dr. Antonis Armoundas, senior author of the study.
“This new data further confirms the prognostic value of MTWA testing,” noted Ali Haghighi-Mood, CEO of Cambridge Heart. Mr. Haghighi-Mood added, “These results have important implications for management strategies designed to prevent sudden cardiac arrest in 10-12 million patients with heart disease who are considered to be at risk for SCA.”
SCA is the leading cause of death in the U.S. accounting for an estimated 300,000 deaths each year – more than stroke, lung cancer and breast cancer combined. Out-of-hospital survival is less than 8%, making prediction and prevention critically important. Microvolt T-Wave Alternans is a marker of SCA risk, which is measured during a non-invasive treadmill test.