Arrhythmias documented by 24-hour continuous ambulatory electrocardiographic monitoring in young women without apparent heart disease

Abstract

Results are reported of 24-hour ambulatory ECG recordings in 50 young women without apparent heart disease. During waking periods, maximum (sinus) rates ranged from 122 to 189 beats/min (bpm) (153 +/- 14 mean +/- SD) and minimum rates from 40 to 73 bpm (56 +/- 7). During sleeping periods, maximum and minimum rates ranged from 71 to 128 bpm (105 +/- 13) and from 37 to 59 bpm (48 +/- 6), respectively. Thirty-two subjects (64%) had atrial premature beats, with only one subject (2%) having greater than 100 beats/24 hrs. Twenty-seven subjects (54%) had ventricular premature beats, with only three subjects (6%) having greater than 50 beats/24 hrs. One subject (2%) had one three-beat episode of ventricular tachycardia. Two subjects (4%) had transient type I second-degree atrioventricular block.