Frequent premature ventricular contractions. Association of burden and complexity with prognosis according to the presence of structural heart disease

Abstract

Introduction: Premature ventricular contractions (PVC) have been associated with mortality and heart failure (HF) regardless the presence of structural heart disease (SHD). The aim of this study was assessing the impact of burden and complexity of PVCs on prognosis, according to presence of SHD. Methods: 312 patients were retrospectively evaluated out of 1967 consecutive patients referred for 24-hr Holter at a single hospital, with a PVC count >1% of total beats. Two groups with and without SHD. PVC burden (PVC%), presence of complex forms, incidence of all-cause death, combined outcomes of all-cause death and cardiovascular hospitalizations, HF death and HF hospitalizations and, sudden death (SD) or hospitalizations due to ventricular arrhythmias (VA)were assessed. Results: Premature ventricular contraction burden was 2.7 (IQR: 1.6–6.7). SHD patients had more polymorphic PVCs, 77% versus 65%, p =.022, triplets and episodes of non-sustained ventricular tachycardia (NSVT): 44% versus 27%, p =.002; 30% versus 12%, p