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Prevalence and Association of Ventricular Tachycardia and Complex Ventricular Arrhythmias With New Coronary Events in Older Men and Women With and Without Cardiovascular Disease

^a Cardiology Division, Department of Medicine, Westchester Medical Center/New York Medical College, Valhalla
^b Division of Clinical Epidemiology, University of Texas Medical School at Houston
^c Westchester Cardiology Associates, Scarsdale, New York
^d Department of Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, New York

Correspondence: Wilbert S. Aronow, Department of Medicine, New York Medical College, 23 Pebble Way, New Rochelle, NY 10804 E-mail: WSAronow{at}aol.com.

Background. We report the prevalence of ventricular tachycardia (VT) and of complex ventricular arrhythmias (VA) and their association with new coronary events in older men and women.

Methods. The prevalence of VT and of complex VA detected by 24-hour ambulatory electrocardiograms and the incidence of new coronary events 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 facility. Follow-up was 45 ± 30 months in men and 47 ± 30 months in women.

Results. 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 prevalence 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 events (p < .0001). Within each of the groups of patients, the incidences of new coronary events in men and in women with and without VT or complex VA were similar.

Conclusions. The prevalence of VT and of complex VA were similar 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.