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Cardiac arrhythmia in geriatric patients with organic dementia
G De Pedis1, K Hedner, B W Johansson
1Department of Clinical Physiology, Lund University, Sweden.
Insights
Patients with organic dementia show higher rates of atrial fibrillation, ventricular tachycardia, and cardiac pauses compared to those without dementia. Long-term ECG registration revealed these key differences in cardiac arrhythmia prevalence.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Neurology
- Geriatrics
Background:
- Cardiac arrhythmias are common in older adults.
- The relationship between dementia and cardiac health requires further investigation.
- Organic dementia may be associated with specific cardiac abnormalities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the prevalence of cardiac arrhythmias and ST segment depression in patients with organic dementia versus a control group.
- To identify specific cardiac rhythm disturbances associated with dementia.
Main Methods:
- Long-term ECG registration (LTER) was performed on 36 patients with organic dementia and 27 control patients.
- Patients ranged in age from 68 to 96 years.
- Data on atrial fibrillation, ventricular tachycardia, extrasystoles, ST segment depression, and cardiac pauses were analyzed.
Main Results:
- The dementia group exhibited a significantly higher prevalence of atrial fibrillation (p = 0.0131), ventricular tachycardia (p = 0.0156), and cardiac pauses (p = 0.0347).
- Ventricular and supraventricular extrasystoles were frequent in both groups.
- No significant difference in ST segment depression was observed between the groups.
Conclusions:
- Organic dementia is associated with an increased prevalence of atrial fibrillation, ventricular tachycardia, and cardiac pauses.
- These findings suggest a potential link between dementia and specific cardiac rhythm abnormalities.
- Further research is warranted to explore the underlying mechanisms and clinical implications.
Abstract:
Cardiac arrhythmia and ST segment depression was analyzed with long-term ECG registration (LTER) in 36 patients with organic dementia aged 69-96 (mean 84) years and 27 patients without dementia or current heart disease aged 68-93 (mean 83) years. In the dementia group we found a higher prevalence of atrial fibrillation (p = 0.0131), ventricular tachycardia (p = 0.0156) and gaps (p = 0.0347) in comparison with the reference group. Ventricular and supraventricular extrasystoles were frequent in both groups. There was no difference in the prevalence of ST segment depression between the two groups. In conclusion we found an increased prevalence of atrial fibrillation, ventricular tachycardia and gaps in the dementia group in comparison with the reference group.