Little is known about the permanent pacemaker implantation rate and predictors of permanent pacemaker implantation in patients admitted for complete atrioventricular block (cAVB). The present study was a retrospective analysis based on a multicenter cohort of 797 patients with cAVB (mean age: 79.6 ± 10.7 years; males: 48.4%) registered with the Tokyo Cardiovascular Care Unit Network multicenter registry between 2013 and 2016. Secondary cAVB due to acute coronary syndrome was excluded. The permanent pacemaker implantation rate was 82.9%. Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that systolic blood pressure (SBP) > 140 mmHg [odds ratio (OR) 2.10; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.38-3.22; P < 0.001], male gender (OR 1.63; 95% CI 1.07-2.49; P = 0.023), and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≥ 50% (OR 2.19; 95% CI 1.16-2.06; P = 0.016) were predictors of permanent pacemaker implantation while pre-admission β-blocker use (OR 0.28; 95% CI 0.17-0.47; P < 0.001) was associated with a lower risk of permanent pacemaker implantation. Reversible cAVB was not rare in patients admitted for cAVB. Data on SBP on admission, gender, LVEF, and pre-admission β-blocker use may be important for assessing the requirement for permanent pacemaker implantation in the emergency care setting.
Keywords: Blood pressure; Complete atrioventricular block; Pacemaker; Sex; β-blocker.