@article{ref1,
title="Leisure-time activities of patients with ICDs: findings of a survey with respect to sports activity, high altitude stays, and driving patterns",
journal="Pacing and clinical electrophysiology",
year="2008",
author="Kobza, Richard and Duru, Firat and Erne, Paul",
volume="31",
number="7",
pages="845-849",
abstract="BACKGROUND: Physicians who are caring for patients with implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) are regularly confronted with questions concerning daily activities. This study evaluates the habits of ICD patients with respect to sports activities, stays at high-altitude, and driving patterns. METHODS: A survey was performed in 387 patients with ICDs who were followed at two hospitals in Switzerland. The special-designed questionnaire addressed lifestyle practices concerning sports activity, high-altitude visits, and driving motor vehicles. RESULTS: Fifty-nine percent of ICD patients participated in some kind of sports activity; an ICD shock was experienced in 14% of these patients. Fifty-six percent of the patients reported a stay at high altitudes at least 2,000 m above the sea level; 11% of them stayed regularly above 2,500 m; 4% of these patients experienced an ICD shock during high altitude stay. Seventy-nine percent of the patients drove a motor vehicle; 2% of them experienced an ICD shock during driving, but none of them reported loss of consciousness or a traffic accident. CONCLUSION: It is accepted that ICD patients disqualify for competitive sports. However, the patients may be encouraged to continue leisure-time physical activities at low-to-moderate intensity. Staying at high altitudes and driving motor vehicles are very rarely associated with ICD shocks. Therefore, these activities that are likely to contribute to a better quality of life should not be discouraged in most ICD recipients in the absence of other medical reasons.<p /><p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0147-8389",
doi="10.1111/j.1540-8159.2008.01098.x",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-8159.2008.01098.x"
}