September 4, 2025- ZOLL® is highlighting the recent European Heart Journal publication of SCD-PROTECT, an independent clinical trial designed to specifically evaluate the risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD) in the early post-MI/CAD and new NICM period with four-pillar guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT).
Key findings across 19,598 consecutive LifeVest WCD patients:
- There was very high utilization of four-pillar GDMT medications at discharge:
- 81.7% of patients were on an SGLT2 inhibitor
- 74.7% of patients were on an ARNI
- 95.1% of patients were on a beta-blocker
- 83.1% of patients were on an MRA
- Despite high use of GDMT, the rate of appropriate LifeVest treatments was high:
- NICM: 6.10 appropriate treatments per 100 patient-years
- MI/CAD: 8.64 appropriate treatments per 100 patient-years
- The rate of appropriate LifeVest treatments in SCD-PROTECT was significantly higher than treatment rates reported in ICD studies of chronic patients, indicating that results of ICD trials may not be applicable to the early period of GDMT.
“Four-pillar GDMT has shown strong outcomes, but these findings illustrate that there remains a vulnerable early period, where SCD risk remains high despite comprehensive use of GDMT therapy,” said Marat Fudim, MD, MHS, an author of the SCD-PROTECT study.
“SCD-PROTECT is a landmark study that reshapes our understanding of SCD risk in the context of modern GDMT,” Fudim continued. “These data support the LifeVest WCD as an effective tool for protecting newly diagnosed heart failure and post-MI patients with reduced EF during this high-risk window.”
SCD-PROTECT adds to the body of evidence reinforcing the effectiveness of the LifeVest WCD. In this cohort of 19,598 consecutive real-world patients, median LifeVest Wear Time® per day was 23.4 and 23.5 hours in NICM and MI/CAD patients respectively. Inappropriate treatments were rare with an overall rate of 0.5% of patients.
Only LifeVest has >95% first-shock success in peer-reviewed publications and real-world use, 96% one-year survival data, and a wealth of published research covering more than 120,000 patients.
More than one million women and men have been protected by LifeVest, the only WCD with in-network coverage for >98% of commercially covered lives.12 For more information, visit www.LifeVestInnovation.com.
SCD-PROTECT is an independent study. See the publication here and for additional details visit www.SCDProtection.com.
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