According to Dr. Sana Al-Khatib , lead researcher of the study published Tuesday in the Journal of the American Medical Association , ICDs often are recommended as a primary prevention tactic for patients who are at high risk for a cardiac arrest or life-threatening arrhythmia , but who have not yet suffered from these symptoms . A federal health agency has a set of guidelines for evaluating implant candidates . Duke University study : More than 20 % of implant recipients were n't good candidates . Among those patients , the risk of dying in the hospital was significantly higher . Comment:
A federal health agency has a set of guidelines for evaluating implant candidates . Duke University study : More than 20 % of implant recipients were n't good candidates . Among those patients , the risk of dying in the hospital was significantly higher . Comment: