The Medical journal of Australia
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To quantify the number of implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) procedures in Australia by year, patient age and sex, and to estimate age group-specific population rates and the associated costs. Design, setting: Retrospective observational study; analysis of Australian National Hospital Morbidity Database hospital procedures data. ⋯ ICD procedures are becoming more frequent in Australia, particularly in people aged 70 or more. Patterns of care associated with ICD therapy, particularly patient- and hospital-related factors associated with adverse events, should be investigated to better understand and improve patient outcomes.