ABSTRACT
A clinical study was made on 189 cases of various types of arrhythmia diagnosed among 1,100 patients. Incidence of arrhythmia was 17.2% of the total cases (male 58.2%, female 41.8%). Of 189 cases of arrhythmias, 78(41.3%) had bundle branch block, 42(22.2%) atrial fibrillation, 18(9.5%) atrioventricular block, 15(8%) premature ventricular contraction, 6(3.2%) sinus arrhythmia, 6(3.2%) W.P.W. syndrome, 4(2%) premature atrial contraction, 3(1.6%) atrial flutter-fibrillation, 3(1.6%) ventricular bigeminy, 3(1.6%) intraventricular conduction defect, 2(1.1%) atrial flutter, 2(1.1%) nodal bigeminy, 2(1.1%) ventricular bigeminy, 1(0.5%) paroxysmal atrial contraction and 1(0.5%) A-V nodal rhythm, 1(0.5%) nodla premature contraction, 1(0.5%) paroxysmal atrial contraction and 1(0.5%) sinus arrest. Etiological diagnoses of patients with arrhythmia were rheumatic heart disease (21.7%), hypertensive heart disease (12.7%), arteriosclerotic heart disease (12.7%), thyrotoxic heart disease (1.6%), anemic heart disease(1.6%) congenital heart disease (2.6%), cerebral vascular accident (1.6%), essential hypertension (9%) cerebral arteriosclerosis (0.53%), cor pulmonale (2.1%). chronic myocarditis (1.6%), anemia (1.6%), chronic nephritis (1.6%), acute glomerulonephritis (0.53%) chronic hepatitis (1.1%), tuberculosis (4.2%), bronchiectasis (1.1%), leprosy (0.53%), epilepsy (0.53%) intoxication (2.6%) cardiac neurosis (11.6%) and unknown (8%). The cardinal symptoms consisted of palpitation, dyspnea, headache, edema, dizziness, cough, left chest pain. gastrointestinal complaints, chest discomfort (thightness), weakness and fatigability. The incidence of arrhythmia was highest in the 4 th decade.