Frequency of Atrial Arrhythmias in the Patients With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Abstract

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has been linked with various kind of cardiac arrhythmias. The risk of arrhythmias in patients with COPD has been driven by the stage and disease state, with a higher frequency of supraventricular tachycardia during exacerbations. Aim: To evaluate the frequency of atrial arrhythmias (which include atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, and multifocal atrial tachycardia) in the patients who were suffering from COPD. Methods: It was a cross sectional analysis or prevalence study. This research was piloted in the Medicine Department, Medical Division IV, Services Hospital, Lahore. This research was ended in 365 days after endorsement of synopsis from 1st June, 2017 to 30th May 2018. Results: In our study, 111(46.25%) were in range 40-55 years of age while 129(53.75%) were in range 56-70 years of age, the calculated mean standard deviation was 56.23±8.19 years, 134(55.83%) were male and 106(44.17%) were females, 142(59.17%) between 1-2 years and 98(40.83%) had >2 years of duration. Frequency of atrial arrhythmias in the patients who were suffering from COPD was recorded as 22(9.17%) having Atrial Fibrillation, 53(22.08%) had Atrial flutter and 31(12.92%) had Multifocal atrial tachycardia. Conclusion: Atrial arrhythmias are common findings in patients with COPD. So, it is very important for treating physicians that every patient having COPD, should undergo Electrocardiogram (ECG) for picking up the atrial arrhythmias. Keywords: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, atrial arrhythmias, frequency