PATTERNS OF ARRHYTHMIAS IN HOSPITALIZED PATIENTS WITH COPD AND THEIR ASSOCIATION WITH DISEASE SEVERITY

Main Article Content

Zahid Hussain
Wajahat Sultan Baig
Muhammad Faisal Bacha
Yasir Ahmed
Sidla Rehman
Ahmed Usman

Keywords

Arrhythmias, Chronic obstructive, Pulmonary disease,

Abstract

Introduction


Cardiovascular complications, particularly arrhythmias are quite common in people who are hospitalized with acute exacerbation of COPD. The etiology could be multifactorial, linked with disease activity, therapy-related or due to electrolyte disturbances. The purpose of our study was to assess the pattern of different types of arrhythmias that occur in hospitalized patients with COPD and to study their association with disease severity, particularly in our population.


Methodology


It was a Case control study conducted in the Pulmonology department of Farooq teaching hospital after taking informed consent. A total of 130 patients participated in the study (65 cases and 65 controls). Cardiac monitoring and ECG were used to assess the rhythm. Chi square test for categorical data was used to check the prevalence of arrhythmias and the independent t test for continuous data. A p value of 0.05 or below was taken as statistically significant.


Results


Our study results showed significant prevalence of arrhythmia in patients hospitalized with COPD exacerbation. Out of total, atrial fibrillation was the commonest type noted.


Conclusion


The occurrence of arrhythmia is strongly linked with COPD particularly during exacerbation and the frequency increased with the disease severity.

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