Ambulatory electrocardiographic findings in patients with essential hypertension vs. normal subjects without apparent heart diseases
Liu, C.Z.; Jan, K.M.; Luo, H.S.; Chiou, H.C.; Chen, P.H.; Chen, C.M.
Journal of the Formosan Medical Association 84(5): 571-578
1985
ISSN/ISBN: 0371-7682 PMID: 3862752 Document Number: 247822
Sixty patients with essential hypertension (group I) and 70 middle-aged subjects without apparent cardiovascular disease (group II) underwent portable 24 h ambulatory ECG monitoring. Atrial premature contractions (APC) occurred in 53 (88%) of group I and 47 (67%) of group II: > 50 APC/24 h being 27 (45%) and 15 (21%), respectively. There was no significant difference in incidence of paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardias between these 2 groups. Atrial fibrillation or flutter was noted in 5 (8%) of group I and none in group II. Ventricular premature contractions (VPC) were noted in 41 (68%) of group I vs. 32 (46%) of group II. There was no significant difference in incidence of occasional VPCs defined as 1-50 VPC/24 h (35% in group I and 29% in group II). Group I had significantly greater incidences of frequent VPC (> 50 VPCs/24 h) and complex VPC than group II. Incidence of persistent or transient ST depression was greater in group I than that in group II (40% in group I vs. 8% in group II). There was no significant difference in incidence of atrioventricular blocks. In normal middle-aged Chinese without apparent cardiovascular diseases, there were .apprx. 2/3 with supraventricular arrhythmias and 1/2 with ventricular arrhythmias. In patients with essential hypertension, however, there were increased frequencies of supraventricular arrhythmias, ventricular arrhythmias, presence of complex ventricular arrhythmias and transient S-T abnormalities.