Ventricular arrhythmias in the elderly: evaluation and medical management

Ventricular arrhythmias constitute the main cause of sudden cardiac death. In the elderly, their presentation may be manifested by intermittent confusion or unexplained falls. In some cases, they may also be asymptomatic. The primary management goals are to identify and treat the underlying cause and prevent recurrence. With the exception of beta-blockers, none of the other antiarrhythmic drugs available reduce mortality associated with ventricular arrhythmias. In the elderly, these drugs are associated with a higher risk of adverse events. In this article, the authors review the data available regarding evaluation and management of ventricular arrhythmias in the elderly.