Predisposing factors of short paroxysmal atrial runs in the geriatric patients  : Paroxysmal atrial runs in the geriatric patients

Mustafa Ozan  Çakır

doi:10.5281/zenodo.8432387

Authors

Mustafa Ozan Çakır Zonguldak Bülent Ecevit University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Cardiology, Zonguldak, Turkey https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0941-1928

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.8432387

Keywords:

Atrial ectopic tachycardia, atrial flutter, geriatrics

Abstract

Objective: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia in the elderly population, and it has various major complications. This study aimed to investigate the factors that may cause short paroxysmal atrial runs (SPARs) in the geriatric patients.

Methods: The study included patients aged over 65 years who visited the cardiology outpatient clinic and were diagnosed with SPAR by a 24-hour electrocardiogram holter (24-h ECG). All patients underwent echocardiography, and their plasma C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were measured. Their demographic data, chronic disease status, echocardiographic findings and CRP values were evaluated.

Results: The mean age of the 144 patients was 73 (65-90). Of the patients, 70.8% were female and 29.2% were male. There was no significant difference between the groups with and without SPAR in terms of age (p=0.362), sex (p=0.549), hypertension (p=0.345), congestive heart failure (0.668), diabetes mellitus (p=0.150), coronary artery disease (p=0.518), ejection fraction (p=0.577), or left atrial area (p=0.696). In the univariate regression analysis, diabetes mellitus and plasma CRP levels were associated with the risk of SPAR. In the multivariate logistic regression analysis model including diabetes mellitus (OR:1.996; 95% CI: (0.616–6.472); p=0.249) and plasma CRP levels (OR: 0.325; 95% CI: (0.049–2.143); p=0.243), neither factor was found to be independently associated with the risk of SPAR.

Conclusion: Clinical conditions that are known to increase the risk of developing atrial fibrillation, such as hypertension and congestive heart failure, were not associated with the development of SPAR.

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