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. 2024 Sep 3;40(5):1158-1164.
doi: 10.1002/joa3.13143. eCollection 2024 Oct.

The incidence and risk factors of atrial high-rate episodes in patients with a dual-chamber pacemaker

Son Khac Le Nguyen  1 , Dung Ngoc Kieu  1 , Phuong Le Uyen Tran  1 , Chuong Khac Thien Nguyen  1 , Toan Quang Dang  2 , Chieu Van Ly  2 , Sy Van Hoang  2   3 , Thuc Tri Nguyen  1
Affiliations

The incidence and risk factors of atrial high-rate episodes in patients with a dual-chamber pacemaker

Son Khac Le Nguyen et al. J Arrhythm. .

Abstract

Background and objectives: Cardiovascular implantable electronic devices can detect atrial high-rate episodes (AHREs). However, the predictors of clinically relevant AHREs have not been well identified.

Methods: This prospective study included 145 patients (median age 64.5 ± 16.4 years, 53.1% females) without atrial fibrillation (AF) from December 2020 to January 2022. AHREs were defined as a programmed atrial detection rate >190 beats per minute. Cox regression analysis was used to identify the risk factors of AHREs.

Results: During 6 months of follow-up, AHREs occurred in 30.3% of patients. Multivariable Cox regression analysis showed factors related to development of AHREs including using anti-arrhythmic drugs (AAD) before implantation (Hazard ratio (HR) 7.71; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 2.58-23.02, p < .001), history of paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT; HR 2.45; [95% CI], 1.18-5.09, p = .016), the percentage of premature atrial contraction (PAC) on 24-h Holter electrocardiogram (ECG) monitoring (HR 1.008; [95% CI], 1.003-1.014, p = .003), and left ventricular global longitudinal strain (GLS-LV; HR 0.92;[95% CI], 0.84-0.99, p = .049).

Conclusions: This study showed that a history of PSVT and using AAD, the percentage of PAC on 24-h Holter ECG monitoring, and GLS-LV were the independent predictors of new-onset AHREs.

Keywords: atrial high‐rate episodes (AHRE); global longitudinal strain (GLS); subclinical atrial fibrillation.

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Conflict of interest statement

None of the authors have any conflicts of interest to declare.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Flow diagram showing study participants.
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Kaplan–Meier chart of the history of paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia and freedom from AHREs after 6‐month follow‐up.
FIGURE 3
FIGURE 3
Kaplan–Meier chart of the history of anti‐arrhythmic drugs and freedom from AHREs after 6‐month follow‐up.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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