[Spanish pacemaker registry. Third official report of the Spanish Society of Cardiology Working Group on Cardiac Stimulation (2005)].

INTRODUCTION

The aims of this article were to summarize data on pacemaker implantation reported to the Spanish Pacemaker Registry for 2005 and to provide an analysis of the various electrocardiographic phenomena that lead to pacemaker implantation.

METHODS

Data were collected using the European Pacemaker Identification Card, with each center individually deciding whether to send the card itself or to submit data in an electronic format.

RESULTS

In total, 82 participating centers submitted a total of 9156 cards, which corresponds to 31.9% of pacemakers estimated to have been implanted that year. The average age of patients who received their first implant remained approximately 75 years and, as in previous years, they were more frequently male. In the majority of cases, the indication was atrioventricular block, followed by sick sinus syndrome and then by atrial fibrillation or flutter with atrioventricular block or bradycardia. In 1.35% of the sample analyzed, biventricular stimulation was used for resynchronization. Some 79% of pacemakers were rate-responsive. In practice, all pacemakers used bipolar leads.

CONCLUSIONS

It was observed that the pacing modes selected were better suited to the various electrocardiographic abnormalities that resulted in pacemaker implantation, in accordance with cardiac stimulation guidelines. In the absence of persistent atrial arrhythmia, age had the greatest influence on pacing mode selection. The more frequent use of pacemakers in males was almost exclusively due to the higher incidence of conduction disorders.