When the VEST Does Not Fit: Representations of Trial Results Deviating From Rigorous Data Interpretation.

Sudden cardiac death (SCD) prevention in patients with newly diagnosed ventricular dysfunction or heart failure with reduced ejection fraction is an important clinical issue. A lack of strong evidence has led to uncertainty in medical decision making and variable clinical practice in the use of wearable cardioverter-defibrillators (WCDs). In this context, the results of VEST (Vest Prevention of Early Sudden Death Trial)1 at the American College of Cardiology Scientific Sessions on March 10, 2018, in Orlando, FL were highly anticipated. However, interpretations of the trial results have been presented that we find difficult to reconcile. We wish to call attention to what we think is the most rigorous interpretation of VEST: the primary results were negative. The WCD is designed for patients at risk of SCD who are not immediate candidates for implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) therapy. This is most commonly because of a new diagnosis of left ventricular dysfunction, often after acute myocardial infarction (MI).2 Although ICDs improve survival over years of treatment in appropriately selected patients, reductions in the first 40 days postinfarction have not been conclusively demonstrated.3,4 Despite this lack of evidence, the Food and Drug Administration approved the WCD for use in 2002, primarily because of the ability of this noninvasive technology to deliver appropriate shocks in laboratory settings and case series.5 Although the WCD may seem benign—prompting a philosophy among some of why not, or better safe than sorry—there are reasons its efficacy and value should be …