Cardiac conduction disturbances in rheumatologic disease: a cross-sectional study

Cardiovascular abnormalities are common in patients with rheumatologic disorders. Tachy-arrhythmias occur more frequently in these patients than the general population; however, the prevalence of bradyarrhythmias in this group is less clear. This investigation aimed to analyze the incidence and predictors of bradyarrhythmias and conduction disturbances, as well as the presence and influence of cardiologist management, in patients with rheumatologic disorders.

We performed a retrospective chart review of 57 consecutive patients with rheumatologic conditions evaluated at a tertiary-care safety-net hospital. Conduction disturbances were defined by any electrocardiogram (ECG) finding indicating: bradycardia, sinoatrial block of any degree, atrioventricular nodal block of any degree, left anterior or posterior fascicular block, non-specific intraventricular conduction delay, complete or incomplete right bundle branch block, left bundle branch block, or paced rhythm. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to assess the association of relative predictors of conduction disturbance, the primary outcome of this investigation, as well as the secondary outcome of cardiologist involvement in patient care. Statistical significance was defined as P<0.05. Variables found to be statistically significant in a univariate analysis were included in a multivariable logistic regression analysis.

The most common rheumatologic condition in our patient population was systemic lupus erythematous (21 patients, 36.8%) followed by gout (15 patients, 26.3%), rheumatoid arthritis (13 patients, 22.8%), sarcoidosis (6 patients, 10.5%), and two patients (3.5%) with other autoimmune diseases. A total of 31.6% of patients in this study were found to have conduction disturbances, higher than the prevalence of conduction disturbances in the general population. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed significantly increased odds for conduction disturbances with increased age (odds ratio (OR): 1.05, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.01-1.10, P<0.05). Similar analysis for the involvement of a cardiologist in the care of a patient with a rheumatologic disorder found increased odds for cardiologist involvement with advanced age (OR: 1.05, 95% CI: 1.002-1.09, P<0.05) and cardiovascular disease (OR: 5.0, 95% CI 1.24-21.90, P<0.05).

Prevalence of conduction abnormalities is greater in rheumatologic patients than the general population. Odds for conduction abnormalities increased with age; and the odds of cardiologist involvement increased with age and cardiovascular disease.