AIM: The aim of the study was to analyze the medical history of patients with AV-nodal reentry tachycardia (AVNRT). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between 1990 and 1999 radiofrequency catheter ablation was performed in 1,024 patients suffering from AVNRT. Data of the previous history were comprehended by questionnaire. RESULTS: 748 (73%) patients replied to the questionnaire. The interval between the first appearance of the symptoms and the catheter ablation was 4.1 +/- 1.5 years. The mean age of the patients was 55.4 years (female) and 58.7 years (male). Merely 6% of all patients had a structural heart disease. The mean duration of case history was 16.8 years. In comparison to the male patients, the assignment for female patients to catheter ablation was after a significant 7 years longer lasting anamnesis. The distribution of age showed that the first tachycardia appeared in 16% of the female patients older than 50 years of age and only in 17% younger than 20 years of age; the corresponding percentages for men were 31% and 18%. With reference to the duration of the longest tachycardia episodes and arrhythmia-related presyncopes and syncopes, women showed a more defined symptomatic. On 20% of the patients a radiofrequency catheter ablation ensued without previous antiarrhythmic treatment; 80% of the patients were treated with 2.8 different antiarrhythmic medications. Medical consultations regarding AVNRT were named as follows (mean/range): family doctor 6.1/1-250, emergency physicians 1.1/0-15, hospital 1.0/0-20. The indication for catheter ablation was set by the family doctor in 13% and by the cardiologist in 77%. Patients got their information about catheter ablation in 2.9% from acquainted persons or news services. CONCLUSION: There is no "typical" anamnesis of AVNRT patients. There is an amazingly high rate of patients with an AVNRT begin in elder stage of age and the fact of therapy delay of 7 years in behalf of women.
AIM: The aim of the study was to analyze the medical history of patients with AV-nodal reentry tachycardia (AVNRT). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between 1990 and 1999 radiofrequency catheter ablation was performed in 1,024 patients suffering from AVNRT. Data of the previous history were comprehended by questionnaire. RESULTS: 748 (73%) patients replied to the questionnaire. The interval between the first appearance of the symptoms and the catheter ablation was 4.1 +/- 1.5 years. The mean age of the patients was 55.4 years (female) and 58.7 years (male). Merely 6% of all patients had a structural heart disease. The mean duration of case history was 16.8 years. In comparison to the male patients, the assignment for female patients to catheter ablation was after a significant 7 years longer lasting anamnesis. The distribution of age showed that the first tachycardia appeared in 16% of the female patients older than 50 years of age and only in 17% younger than 20 years of age; the corresponding percentages for men were 31% and 18%. With reference to the duration of the longest tachycardia episodes and arrhythmia-related presyncopes and syncopes, women showed a more defined symptomatic. On 20% of the patients a radiofrequency catheter ablation ensued without previous antiarrhythmic treatment; 80% of the patients were treated with 2.8 different antiarrhythmic medications. Medical consultations regarding AVNRT were named as follows (mean/range): family doctor 6.1/1-250, emergency physicians 1.1/0-15, hospital 1.0/0-20. The indication for catheter ablation was set by the family doctor in 13% and by the cardiologist in 77%. Patients got their information about catheter ablation in 2.9% from acquainted persons or news services. CONCLUSION: There is no "typical" anamnesis of AVNRT patients. There is an amazingly high rate of patients with an AVNRT begin in elder stage of age and the fact of therapy delay of 7 years in behalf of women.