The Clinical Significance of Nonsustained Ventricular Tachycardia in Patients with Sustained Ventricular Tachyarrhythmias

Kelley P. Anderson, Motomi Mori

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: Nonsustained ventricular tachycardia (NSVT) predicts mortality in several disorders but its significance in patients with sustained ventricular tachyarrhythmias is unknown. We analyzed the clinical features and outcome associated with NSVT (≥ 3 beats at ≥ 100 beats/min) recorded on a 48-hour Holter in the absence of antiarrhythmic drugs. Methods: Patients enrolled in the ESVEM trial (n = 486) were grouped according to the duration of the longest recorded episode of NSVT, and in the second analysis, according to frequency of recorded episodes. Assessments were on an intention-to-treat basis. Results: Patients without NSVT were more likely to have ischemic heart disease and had significantly lower frequencies of single and paired premature ventricular complexes (PVCs). There were no significant differences with respect to age, sex, presenting arrhythmia, years since last myocardial infarction, functional class, or present ejection fraction. The cumulative probabilities of arrhythmia recurrence and all-cause mortality at 4 years in patients without NSVT (60% ± 7% and 32% ± 6%, respectively) were not significantly different than those of patients with NSVT (63% ± 3% and 41% ± 3%, respectively). Cox regression models indicated that ejection fraction and functional class were significant predictors of outcome, but variables based on the presence, duration, and frequency of recorded episodes of NSVT were not. Conclusions: NSVT is common in patients with spontaneous and inducible sustained ventricular tachyarrhythmias and at least 10 PVCs/hour (ESVEM enrollment criteria), but is not a significant predictor of arrhythmia recurrence, sudden death, or all-cause mortality in patients with these characteristics.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)33-43
Number of pages11
JournalAnnals of Noninvasive Electrocardiology
Volume1
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 1996
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Arrhythmias
  • Cardiomyopathy
  • Ischemic heart disease
  • Nonsustained ventricular tachycardia
  • Sudden death
  • Ventricular fibrillation

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Physiology (medical)

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