Silver Book Fact
Every year, around 250,000 Americans have an automatic intracardiac defibrillator (ICD) implanted. Data from clinical trials that compares ICDs to antiarrhythmic drugs show that the ICDs reduce sudden cardiac death occurrence 5-10% per year for 2 to 3 years.
Weisfeldt M, Zeiman S. Advances in the Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular Disease: One of the most important contributors to improved human survival is the treatment of cardiovascular disease. Health Aff. 2007; 26(1): 25-37. http://content.healthaffairs.org/cgi/content/full/26/1/25