Citation

Ermis C, Benditt DG. Heart 2009; 95(5): 350-352.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2009, BMJ Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1136/hrt.2008.154948

PMID

19124529

Abstract

In this issue of HEART, Parry et al (1) report results of a double-blind trial of pacing in elderly recurrent fallers with carotid sinus hypersensitivity (CSH). The so-called PERF-CSH trial utilized a cross-over design to determine whether dual-chamber cardiac pacing diminishes susceptibility to recurrent 'falls' in older CSH patients. Despite the encouraging findings with regard to pacing prevention of falls in the original SAFE-PACE findings, the current report indicates that pacing offers, at best, only marginal benefit. The outcome of PERF-CSH may seem to be a setback for our understanding of how to manage 'falls' in the elderly. However, the clinical problem that PERF-CSH addresses remains an important one, and the insight it provides will certainly prove valuable.

Language: en