Is paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia truly benign? Insightful association between PSVT and stroke from a...

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Neurology
• Public Health

Background:

• Atrial fibrillation and flutter are established stroke risk factors.
• The stroke risk associated with other atrial arrhythmias, specifically paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT), requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the association between PSVT and ischemic and embolic stroke.
• To assess the impact of PSVT on short-term outcomes in hospitalized stroke patients.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the National Inpatient Sample database from the USA.
• Excluded atrial fibrillation and flutter to isolate the effects of PSVT.
• Employed univariate and multivariate analyses, including subgroup analyses by gender, age, and stroke type.

Main Results:

• PSVT showed an association with increased odds of overall ischemic stroke in univariate analysis but not in multivariate or subgroup analyses.
• PSVT was independently associated with embolic stroke in both univariate and multivariate analyses, as well as in subgroup analyses.
• The presence of PSVT correlated with increased mortality in embolic stroke patients, along with higher total hospital costs and longer hospital stays across all stroke types.

Conclusions:

• PSVT is an independent risk factor for a higher prevalence of embolic stroke.
• PSVT is not independently associated with overall ischemic stroke.
• Hospitalized patients with embolic stroke and PSVT experience poorer in-hospital outcomes, characterized by increased mortality.