[Analysis of the frequency of cardiac arrhythmias and conduction disturbances from a health-care perspective]. / Análisis de la frecuencia de las arritmias cardíacas y de los trastornos de conducción desde una perspectiva asistencial.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Over the last few years, our understanding of the mechanisms underlying cardiac arrhythmias has increased substantially. However, few data on their prevalence exist. Our objectives were to analyze the prevalence of cardiac arrhythmias and conduction disturbances in cardiology clinic outpatients and to determine the number of patients with a class-I or -IIa recommendation for electrophysiological studies (EPS). PATIENTS AND METHOD: We investigated cardiac arrhythmias and conduction disturbances in 2045 patients and determined their prevalence in those seen for the first time. Specific conditions investigated included supraventricular and ventricular arrhythmias, ischemic disease with an ejection fraction (EF) <30%, second-degree or higher atrioventricular (AV) block, intraventricular block, and sick sinus syndrome. RESULTS: In total, 798 (39%) of all patients and 153 of the 704 (22%) seen for the first time presented with 1 or more of the specified conditions. Their distribution in all patients was: atrial fibrillation, 524 (26%); atrial flutter, 34 (2%); narrow-QRS tachycardia, 58 (3%); ventricular arrhythmias or EF<30% due to ischemic disease or both, 46 (2%); AV block or sinus dysfunction, 68 (3%); intraventricular block, 157 (8%); and other conditions, 4 (0.2%). Some 7% (143/2045) of all patients and 3.5% (25/704) of those seen for the first time had an indication for EPS. CONCLUSIONS: a) Almost 40% of all patients seen in a cardiology outpatient clinic and 1 in 4 of those seen for the first time presented with a cardiac arrhythmia or conduction disturbance; and b) more than 3% of patients seen for the first time had an indication for EPS.

Análisis de la frecuencia de las arritmias cardíacas y de los trastornos de conducción desde una perspectiva asistencial / Analysis of the frequency of cardiac arrhythmias and conduction disturbances from a health-care perspective

Introducción y objetivos. Durante los últimos años hemos asistido a un importante avance en el conocimiento de los mecanismos de las arritmias que no ha ido acompañado de un desarrollo paralelo en el conocimiento de su prevalencia. El objetivo es analizar la frecuencia de las arritmias y los trastornos de conducción cardíacos en una consulta de cardiología general, así como determinar el número de pacientes con indicación de clase I o IIa en el estudio electrofisiológico (EEF). Pacientes y método. Analizamos la presencia de arritmias y alteraciones de la conducción en 2.045 pacientes. Determinamos la incidencia de estas enfermedades en los pacientes que consultaban por primera vez. Incluimos las arritmias supraventriculares o ventriculares, a los pacientes isquémicos con fracción de eyección (FE) de primer grado, bloqueos intraventriculares completos y la disfunción sinusal. Resultados. En 798 (39%) de todos los pacientes y en 153 (22%) de los 704 que consultaban por primera vez se observaba una o más de las enfermedades analizadas. La distribución, entre todos los pacientes, era la siguiente: fibrilación auricular, 524 (26%); aleteo auricular, 34 (2%); taquicardia con un complejo QRS estrecho, 58 (3%); arritmias ventriculares y/o FE < 30% de origen isquémico, 46 (2%); bloqueos auriculoventriculares o disfunción sinusal, 68 (3%); bloqueos intraventriculares, 157 (8%); otros, 4 (0,2%). El 7% (143/2.045) de la totalidad de los pacientes y el 3,5% (25/704) de los que consultaban por primera vez tenían indicación de EEF. Conclusiones. a) Casi un 40% de todos los pacientes atendidos en una consulta de cardiología general y 1 de cada 4 que consultan por primera vez presentan arritmias cardíacas o trastornos de conducción, y b) más de 3 de cada 100 pacientes derivados por primera vez tienen indicación de EEF

Introduction and objectives. Over the last few years, our understanding of the mechanisms underlying cardiac arrhythmias has increased substantially. However, few data on their prevalence exist. Our objectives were to analyze the prevalence of cardiac arrhythmias and conduction disturbances in cardiology clinic outpatients and to determine the number of patients with a class-I or -IIa recommendation for electrophysiological studies (EPS). Patients and method. We investigated cardiac arrhythmias and conduction disturbances in 2045 patients and determined their prevalence in those seen for the first time. Specific conditions investigated included supraventricular and ventricular arrhythmias, ischemic disease with an ejection fraction (EF) <30%, second-degree or higher atrioventricular (AV) block, intraventricular block, and sick sinus syndrome. Results. In total, 798 (39%) of all patients and 153 of the 704 (22%) seen for the first time presented with 1 or more of the specified conditions. Their distribution in all patients was: atrial fibrillation, 524 (26%); atrial flutter, 34 (2%); narrow-QRS tachycardia, 58 (3%); ventricular arrhythmias or EF<30% due to ischemic disease or both, 46 (2%); AV block or sinus dysfunction, 68 (3%); intraventricular block, 157 (8%); and other conditions, 4 (0.2%). Some 7% (143/2045) of all patients and 3.5% (25/704) of those seen for the first time had an indication for EPS. Conclusions. a) Almost 40% of all patients seen in a cardiology outpatient clinic and 1 in 4 of those seen for the first time presented with a cardiac arrhythmia or conduction disturbance; and b) more than 3% of patients seen for the first time had an indication for EPS