Globally, hundreds of thousands of people receive ICD implants each year. In the UK, approximately 35,000–40,000 ICDs and pacemakers are implanted annually, with ICDs accounting for a significant proportion of these. ICD implantation rates have grown steadily over recent decades as evidence for their benefit has expanded and awareness of conditions such as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and inherited arrhythmia syndromes has increased.
Living with an ICD is something millions of people around the world do successfully — the majority returning to work, exercise, travel, and a full life after implantation. You are far from alone.