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Abstract: Background: The PainFree Smart Shock Technology (SST) study showed a low implantable cardioverter‐defibrillator (ICD) inappropriate shock rate. However, the majority of patients were from Western countries with patient characteristics different from those in Japan. ICD shock rates using the novel SST algorithms in Japanese patients are still unknown. Methods: All 2,770 patients in the PainFree SST study (Japan [JPN]: N = 181, other geographies [OJPN]: N = 2,589) were included in this analysis. Results: Japanese patients had higher average left ventricular ejection fraction (P < 0.0001), higher prevalence of secondary prevention indications (P < 0.0001), nonischemic cardiomyopathy (P < 0.0001), and permanent atrial fibrillation (P < 0.0001). The appropriate shock rate at 12 months was not different between JPN and OJPN: 6.4% and 6.3%, respectively (P = 0.95). The inappropriate shock rate at 12 months was significantly higher in Japanese patients (2.9% vs 1.7%, P = 0.017). However, after propensity score matching to adjust for the difference in baseline characteristics, the difference in inappropriate shock rate was not statistically significant (P = 0.51). Conclusions: There was no difference in the appropriate shock rate between Japan and other geographies. The inappropriate shock rate in Japan was low, although it was slightly higher compared to other geographies due to baseline characteristics, including a higher prevalence of permanent AF. There was not a statistically significant difference after adjusting for baseline characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: It is unclear whether health related quality of life (HRQL) may have a predictive value for mortality in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). We investigated the relationship between HRQL assessed using the St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) and survival time in patients with IPF, and tried to determine a clinical meaningful cut off value to predict poorer survival rates.Methods: We retrospectively analyzed consecutive patients with IPF who underwent an initial evaluation from May 2007 to December 2012. The diagnosis of IPF was made according to the 2011 international consensus guidelines. We used Cox proportional hazard models to identify independent predictors for mortality rate in patients with IPF.Results: We examined 182 eligible cases, average age was 66 years old, and 86% were male. Mean levels of percent predicted FVC, DLco, six-minute-walk test distance, and the SGRQ total score were around 80%, 58%, 580 m, and 34 points. On multivariate analysis, the SGRQ total score (hazard ratio [HR], 1.012; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.001-1.023; P = .029) and percent predicted FVC (HR, 0.957; 95% CI 0.944-0.971, P < .001) were independent predictors for mortality rate. Moreover, a score higher than 30 points in the SGRQ total score showed higher mortality rate (HR, 2.047; 95% CI, 1.329-3.153; P = .001).Conclusions: The SGRQ total score was one of independent prognostic factors in patients with IPF. Total scores higher than 30 points were associated with higher mortality rates.Trial Registration: This study was retrospective, observational study, so it is not applicable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]