Echocardiographic predictors of ventricular tachycardia

Publication Date

January 2015

Journal Title

Clin Med Insights Cardiol

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Patients with structural heart disease are prone to ventricular tachycardia (VT) and ventricular fibrillation (VF), which account for the majority of sudden cardiac deaths (SCDs). We sought to examine echocardiographic parameters that can predict VT as documented by implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) appropriate discharge. We examine echocardiographic parameters other than ejection fraction that may predict VT as recorded via rates of ICD discharge. METHODS: Analysis of 586 patients (469 males; mean age = 68 +/- 3 years; mean follow-up time of 11 +/- 14 months) was undertaken. Echo parameters assessed included left ventricular (LV) internal end diastolic/systolic dimension (LVIDd, LVIDs), relative wall thickness (RWT), and left atrial (LA) size. RESULTS: The incidence of VT was 0.22 (114 VT episodes per 528 person-years of follow-up time). Median time-to-first VT was 3.8 years. VT was documented in 79 patients (59 first VT incidence, 20 multiple). The echocardiographic parameter associated with first VT was LVIDs >4 cm (P = 0.02). CONCLUSION: The main echocardiographic predictor associated with the first occurrence of VT was LVIDs >4 cm. Patients with an LVIDs >4 cm were 2.5 times more likely to have an episode of VT. Changes in these echocardiographic parameters may warrant aggressive pharmacologic therapy and implantation of an ICD.

Volume Number

8

Issue Number

Suppl 4

Pages

37-42

Document Type

Article

EPub Date

2014/01/01

Facility

School of Medicine

Primary Department

Cardiology

Additional Departments

Molecular Medicine

PMID

25861227

DOI

10.4137/cmc.s18499

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