Advantages and disadvantages of trial designs: A review of analysis methods for ICD studies

General modalities of analyses that have been used for ICD studies are revi ewed. Published "typical" examples are briefly described. The historical co hort method is exemplified with previously unpublished data from the Seattl e Cardiac Arrest Survivor database. The AVID Study database is used to comp are the results obtained from nonrandomized methodologies with randomized m ethodologies. Particular issues related to the use of the ICD for example, mode of death, inability to blind, selection practice, and treatment decisi on times make this a natural pedagogic platform.