Diagnostic Yield and Clinical Implications of Implantable Loop Recorders in Patients with Syncope in Germany: A National Database Analysis

Abstract

In patients with unexplained syncope, implantable loop recorders (ILR) are used to detect arrhythmias as a cause of syncope. This study aimed to assess the diagnostic yield and clinical implications arising from ILR implantation in patients with syncope in Germany. Secondary longitudinal data were obtained from a large German research database including anonymized data from nationwide statutory health insurances, representative for the German population. Patients ≥ 18 years with a diagnosis of syncope and ILR implantation between 2017 and 2018 were analyzed, and cardiac diagnoses and therapies during a follow-up period of two years assessed. Of 2,403,301 continuously insured persons in 2017–2018, 1360 (0.1%) received an ILR and 675 patients (45.6% female) were included. During follow-up, arrhythmias were diagnosed in 65.0%. The following antiarrhythmic therapies were established: pacemaker and defibrillator implantations in 20% and 1.5%, respectively, ablation therapy in 3.0%, and antiarrhythmic drug therapy in 4.7%. Aside from the diagnoses typically associated with syncope, atrial fibrillation or flutter was diagnosed in 37.0%, and anticoagulation therapy was initiated in 21.5%. There was a high diagnostic yield of arrhythmias following ILR implantation, leading to a relevant number of syncope-specific treatment. Arrhythmias not necessarily related to syncope were also diagnosed, leading to a high rate of anticoagulation therapy.