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Journal of Cardiovascular Medicine and Surgery

Volume  5, Issue 3, July - September 2019, Pages 117-122
 

Original Article

Clinical Presentation and Outcomes of Cardiac Arrhythmias in the Elderly

Pratik Atul Burad, Sangeeta Pednekar,

1 Assistant Professor and Lecturer, Dr Vasantrao Pawar Medical College, Nashik, Maharashtra 422207, India. 2 Professor, Department of Medicine, Lokmanya Tilak Municipal Medical College (LTMMC) and General Hospital, Sion, Mumbai, Maharashtra

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DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.21088/jcms.2454.7123.5319.2

Abstract

Introduction: Aging may result in numerous changes in the cardiovascular system including the conduction system of the heart. The present study was conducted to describe various subtypes, various comorbidities, clinical and investigational profile and outcome of cardiac arrhythmias among geriatric population. Methodology: The present observational study was conducted with fifty patients diagnosed with cardiac arrhythmia and admitted in the general medicine ward or intensive care unit (ICU) of our hospital. Based on the medical history, examination and various investigations patients were classified as Atrial fibrillation (AF), Complete Heart Block (CHB) or Ventricular tachycardia (VT). Results: History revealed cardiac insufficiency in 38%, renal failure in 30%, acidosis in 24%, hypoxia in 20%, hyperkalemia in 14% and hyperthyroidism in 4% of the patients. Most common comorbidity was hypertension (48%). Breathlessness, palpitations, chest pain, syncope and hemoptysis were the common presenting complaints. 46% were diagnosed with atrial fibrillation (AF), 36% complete heart block (CHB) and rest of the 18% with ventricular tachycardia (VT). We found that patients diagnosed with VT were newly presenting and were significantly associated with cardiac insufficiency, higher admission rates to ICU, and higher mortality. Atrial fibrillation in our study patients was significantly associated with rheumatic heart disease and hypoxia/acidosis. CHB patients were more likely to be associated with diabetes mellitus. Conclusions: Appreciating changes in the cardiac conduction system in the elderly will assist the practitioner in quicker diagnosis and better management.

 


Keywords : Atrial; Arrhythmia; Geriatric; Mortality.
Corresponding Author : Sangeeta Pednekar