Clinical analysis of cardiac arrhythmia in elderly patients using 24-h dynamic electrocardiogram

AIM:To analyze the clinical diagnostic value of 24 h dynamic electrocardiogram (DCG) in elderly cardiac arrhythmia patients >60 years of age. METHODS: Results of DCG and ECG were used to analyze cardiac arrhythmia in 981 elderly patients from December 2010 to January 2013 in our hospital and their clinical diagnostic value was compared. RESULTS: The total detection rate of DCG in cardiac arrhythmia diagnosis was higher than that of ECG. In various kinds of arrhythmias, premature atrial contraction was most common (90.2%) followed by premature ventricular beat (77.3%). CONCLUSION: With the increase of age, the incidence of arrhythmia, one of the most common causes of death in elderly patients, increased significantly in elderly subjects. Early DCG examination should be performed for patients >60 years old and early detection of arrhythmia and determination of the severity will reduce the incidence of sudden death in elderly patients.