How Likely Are You to Need a Pacemaker?

It depends on your age

(HealthDayNews) -- The cardiac pacemaker is a wonderful device that keeps the beat for hearts that have lost the ability to maintain their own rhythms.

According to the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 26,425 new or replacement pacemakers were inserted in 1997.

Your chances of actually needing a pacemaker depend on your age:

  • For every 100,000 people between the ages of 65 and 74 years, 227 will need a pacemaker this year.
  • When you get to the 75-84 year range, 586 of every 100,000 people will need a pacemaker.
  • Between 75 and 84 years, 875 of every 100,000 people will have a pacemaker installed each year.
  • But once you get past your 94th year, the likelihood that you'll need a pacemaker drops to 541 per 100,000 people.

Related Stories

No stories found.
logo
www.healthday.com