Prevalence and association of ventricular tachycardia and complex ventricular arrhythmias with new coronary events in older men and women with and without cardiovascular disease

Background. We report the prevalence of ventricular tachycardia (VT) and of complex ventricular arrhythmias (VA) and their association with new coronary cornary events in older men and women. Methods. The prevalence of VT and of complete VA detected by 24-hour ambulatory electrocardiograms and the incidence of new coronary event, in older persons with coronary artery disease (CAD), with hypertension, valvular disease or cardiomyopathy without CAD and with no cardiovascular disease was investigated in 915 men (mean age 80 +/- 8 years) and in 1.874 women (mean age 81 +/- 8 years) in a long-term health care faculty. Follows-up was 45 +/- 30 Months in men and 47 +/- 30 month, in women Result. The prevalence of VT was 16%, in men and 15% in women with CAD, 9% in men and 8% in women with hypertension, valvular disease, or cardiomyopathy without CAD and 3% in men and 2% in women with no cardiovascular disease. The prep of complex VA was 69%, in men and 68%, in women with CAD 54% in men and 55% in women with hypertension, valvular disease or cardiomyopathy without CAD, and 31% in men and 30% in women with no cardiovascular disease, In Men and in women with CAD or with hypertension. valvular disease, or cardiomyopathy. VT and complex VA increased the incidence of new coronary event (p < 0001). Within each of the groups of patients the incidence of new coronary event, in men and in women with and without VT or complete VA were similar. Conclusions. The prevalence of VT and of complex VA were in older men and women, VT and complex VA were associated with a higher incidence of new coronary events in men and women with CAD or with hypertension, valvular disease or cardiomyopathy without CAD. but not in men and women with no cardiovascular disease.