Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 20, 2026

Catheter Ablation in Combination With Left Atrial Appendage Closure for Atrial Fibrillation
28:13

Catheter Ablation in Combination With Left Atrial Appendage Closure for Atrial Fibrillation

Published on: February 26, 2013

Cardiac arrhythmias and stroke: increased risk in men with high frequency of atrial ectopic beats

G Engström1, B Hedblad, S Juul-Möller

  • 1Department of Community Medicine, Malmö University Hospital (Sweden). Gunnar.Engstrom@smi.mas.lu.se

Stroke
|January 11, 2000
PubMed

Insights

A high frequency of atrial ectopic beats (AEB) significantly increases stroke risk, even in men without atrial fibrillation. This finding highlights the importance of monitoring AEB for stroke prevention strategies.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Neurology
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Limited research exists on cardiac arrhythmias, excluding atrial fibrillation (AF), and stroke incidence.
  • Cardiac arrhythmias are potential risk factors for stroke.
  • Understanding these associations is crucial for stroke prevention.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between atrial and ventricular arrhythmias detected via 24-hour ambulatory ECG and stroke incidence.
  • To determine if frequent atrial ectopic beats (AEB) or complex ventricular arrhythmias predict stroke risk.
  • To assess these associations in a population-based cohort, including hypertensive individuals.

Main Methods:

  • A population-based cohort study,
  • Men Born in 1914
  • underwent 24-hour ambulatory ECG at age 68. Four hundred two men without prior heart attack or stroke were included, with 236 having hypertension. Stroke and mortality data were tracked for 14 years. Frequent or complex ventricular arrhythmias were defined as Lown class 2-5. High AEB frequency was defined as the top quintile (>=218 AEB/24 hours).

Main Results:

  • Fifty-eight men experienced a first stroke during follow-up.
  • High AEB frequency was significantly associated with increased stroke risk (RR=1.9; P=0.04) in the overall cohort.
  • This association was even stronger in hypertensive men (RR=2.5; P=0.009). Ventricular arrhythmias did not show a statistically significant association with stroke.

Conclusions:

  • A high frequency of atrial ectopic beats (AEB) is independently associated with an increased incidence of stroke.
  • Monitoring AEB may be important for identifying individuals at higher stroke risk.
  • The study emphasizes the need to consider atrial arrhythmias beyond AF in stroke risk assessment.
Abstract

More Related Videos

Estimating Bilateral Atrial Function by Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Feature Tracking in Patients with Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation08:10

Estimating Bilateral Atrial Function by Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Feature Tracking in Patients with Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation

Published on: July 20, 2022

Rat Model of Right-Sided Cardiac Remodeling and Arrhythmia Using Pulmonary Artery Banding10:39

Rat Model of Right-Sided Cardiac Remodeling and Arrhythmia Using Pulmonary Artery Banding

Published on: August 30, 2024

Related Concept Videos

Mechanism of Cardiac Arrhythmias01:28

Mechanism of Cardiac Arrhythmias

Arrhythmias are irregular heart rhythms occurring when the heart's electrical impulses become abnormal. These disturbances can lead to various symptoms, depending on their severity and the underlying cause. Some common factors contributing to arrhythmias include hypoxia, ischemia, electrolyte imbalances, excessive catecholamine exposure, drug toxicity, and muscle overstretching. Arrhythmias can be classified into two main types based on the rate and site of origin of abnormal heart rhythms.
Disturbances in Heart Rhythm01:29

Disturbances in Heart Rhythm

Arrhythmia or dysrhythmia refers to an abnormal heart rhythm caused by a defect in the heart's conduction system. It can cause the heart to beat irregularly, too quickly, or too slowly, leading to symptoms like chest pain, shortness of breath, and fainting. Factors such as stress, caffeine, alcohol, nicotine, cocaine, certain drugs, congenital defects, diseases, and electrolyte abnormalities can trigger arrhythmias.
Arrhythmias are categorized by their speed, rhythm, and origin. A slow heart...
ECG Interpretation of Arrhythmias I: Sinus Arrhythmias01:16

ECG Interpretation of Arrhythmias I: Sinus Arrhythmias

Arrhythmias are disturbances in the heart's rhythm that lead to abnormal heartbeats. These irregularities can originate from different parts of the heart and are classified based on their origin and nature.
Types of Arrhythmias
Sinus Node Arrhythmias
Sinus Bradycardia: Originating from the sinoatrial (SA) node, sinus bradycardia involves slower impulses, resulting in a heart rate of less than 60 beats per minute (bpm). Causes include sleep, vagal stimulation, beta-blockers, hypothyroidism, and...
Dysrhythmias II: Classification of Tachyarrhythmias01:28

Dysrhythmias II: Classification of Tachyarrhythmias

Tachyarrhythmias are a type of dysrhythmia where the heart rate exceeds 100 beats per minute. Here are some common types of tachyarrhythmias:Sinus TachycardiaSinus tachycardia originates from increased impulses from the sinus node, leading to an elevated heart rate. It is often triggered by stress, fever, or exercise.Patients may experience palpitations, a sensation of a racing heart, dizziness, and chest discomfort.Causes and Risk Factors: Common causes include physical exertion, emotional...
Dysrhythmias III: Characteristics of Dysrhythmias01:29

Dysrhythmias III: Characteristics of Dysrhythmias

Dysrhythmias, also known as arrhythmias, are irregular heart rhythms that result from abnormal electrical activity in the heart, affecting its ability to circulate blood efficiently. Tachyarrhythmias, a subset of dysrhythmias, are characterized by abnormally fast heart rates exceeding 100 beats per minute. Here are some types of tachyarrhythmias with their distinct ECG features:Sinus Tachycardia:Sinus tachycardia presents a regular heart rhythm with an increased rate of 101-180 beats per minute.
ECG Interpretation of Arrhythmias II: Atrial, Junctional and Ventricular Arrhythmias01:25

ECG Interpretation of Arrhythmias II: Atrial, Junctional and Ventricular Arrhythmias

Arrhythmia is a condition characterized by an irregular heart rhythm, with ECG changes that differ based on its origin and nature. The types of arrhythmias discussed below include atrial, junctional, and ventricular arrhythmias.Atrial ArrhythmiasPremature Atrial Complexes (PACs): PACs are early atrial beats caused by stress, caffeine, alcohol, electrolyte imbalances, hypoxia, hyperthyroidism, or certain medications (e.g., bronchodilators and decongestants). The ECG shows early P waves with an...