A Population-Based Study

Background: The number of very elderly persons who are candidates for implantation of a permanent pace-maker is increasing, but the effect of cardiac pacing on long-term survival and functional variables has not been determined. Objective: To determine long-term survival after implan-tat ion of a permanent pacemaker in octogenarians and nonagenarians and to assess functional independence af-ter such implantation. Design: Retrospective, population-based cohort study. Setting: Epidemiologic setting f rom an unselected popu-lation. Patients: 157 octogenarians and nonagenarians who ini-tially received a pacemaker between 1962 and 1988 and were fol lowed through 1992