Zia I Carrim1, Ashraf A Khan. 1. College of Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom. zia.carrim@doctors.org.uk
Abstract
AIM: The aim was to test the hypothesis that mean frequency of premature ventricular complexes (PVCs) correlates with vulnerability to malignant arrhythmias such as ventricular tachycardia and/or ventricular fibrillation (VT/VF). METHODS: Patients with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) device for underlying ischemic or non-ischemic cardiac pathology were selected from a database. Availability of total count of single (s) PVCs and runs (r) of PVCs was the only inclusion criterion. Forty-four subjects (6 females and 38 males) aged 18-74 years (mean 547.1 years), were eligible. All had a European Pacemaker Identification Card (EPIC) documenting left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). The frequency of recorded episodes of VT and VF was obtained from ICD memory. RESULTS: Among patients with ischemic heart disease (IHD) and those with IHD and an LVEF of less than 30%, the mean frequency of PVCs was significantly higher in those with subsequent episodes of VT/VF compared to those without subsequent episodes (p < 0.05 for sPVCs and rPVCs in both groups). CONCLUSION: Among patients with IHD, mean frequency of PVCs is a useful marker of vulnerability to potentially fatal arrhythmias and may be a useful tool for the risk stratification of patients.
AIM: The aim was to test the hypothesis that mean frequency of premature ventricular complexes (PVCs) correlates with vulnerability to malignant arrhythmias such as ventricular tachycardia and/or ventricular fibrillation (VT/VF). METHODS:Patients with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) device for underlying ischemic or non-ischemic cardiac pathology were selected from a database. Availability of total count of single (s) PVCs and runs (r) of PVCs was the only inclusion criterion. Forty-four subjects (6 females and 38 males) aged 18-74 years (mean 547.1 years), were eligible. All had a European Pacemaker Identification Card (EPIC) documenting left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). The frequency of recorded episodes of VT and VF was obtained from ICD memory. RESULTS: Among patients with ischemic heart disease (IHD) and those with IHD and an LVEF of less than 30%, the mean frequency of PVCs was significantly higher in those with subsequent episodes of VT/VF compared to those without subsequent episodes (p < 0.05 for sPVCs and rPVCs in both groups). CONCLUSION: Among patients with IHD, mean frequency of PVCs is a useful marker of vulnerability to potentially fatal arrhythmias and may be a useful tool for the risk stratification of patients.
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