ARRHYTHMIAS IN PATIENTS WITH ACUTE CORONARY SYNDROME

Abstract

Objective: To determine the frequency of arrhythmias in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in a tertiary care hospital, Karachi, Pakistan.

Methodology: This cross-sectional study was conducted at cardiology department of a tertiary care hospital of Karachi, Pakistan. A total of 189 consecutive patients of either gender presented with ACS during six months of study period were included. Continuous cardiac monitoring (telemetry) was done to record any arrhythmia within 24 hours of onset of symptoms.

Results: 189 patients with ACS were included, 152 patients (80.4%) were males with the mean age of 48.23 ± 6.717 years. This included 95 patients (50.3%) with unstable angina, 36 patients (19.1%) with ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), and 58 patients (30.7%) with Non-STEMI. Arrhythmias were seen in 39 patients (20.6%), most commonly observed type of arrhythmia was premature ventricular contractions (12), atrial fibrillation (nine), ventricular tachycardia (seven), and ventricular fibrillation (five).

Conclusion: Arrhythmias were reported in 39 patients from the total, accounting for 20.63% of the entire population. The incidence of cardiac arrhythmia was more in the age group 40-60 years and male population.