Quantitation of the Gain in Mortality and Life‐Time after Pacemaker Treatment

Abstract

A total of 140 patients given permanent pacemaker 1963-73 were followed during 3 yr with regard to survival. Indication for pacemaker implantation was AV [atrioventricular] block in 82% and disturbed consciousness in 84%. The 1st half of the series had a survival equal to that of the 2nd half. The survival was 86, 73 and 64% and the excess mortality, which is above normal, was 9, 16 and 20% after 1, 2 and 3 yr, respectively. Concepts of fractional life-time and death-time were developed. These express the proportion of the total observation time that is life and death, respectively. The fractional life-time was 0.80 and the fractional death-time 0.20. The excess death-time was 0.12 (12%) of the total observation time. Mortality, survival, life-time and death-time were compared in 3 studies, the present one and 2 from Denmark. The great similarities were obvious. An estimation of the unpaced survival during 3 yr, based on studies of AV block before the pacemaker era, indicated the great benefit of pacemaker treatment.