Study on 24-h dynamic electrocardiogram changes of senile bronchial asthma during acute period and stable period in elderly patients

AIM:To examine 24-h dynamic electrocardiogram changes of senile bronchial asthma during acute and stable periods in elderly patients. METHODS: Seventy-six patients (54 male, 22 female) aged 60-89(74±8) years were included in this study. Patients had a history of asthma between 2 and 31(12±9) years. Twenty-four-hour dynamic electrocardiogram was performed, respectively, during acute period and 2 weeks after the stable period. RESULTS: There were significant differences in maximum heart rate ［(142±31) vs.(113±17) 1/min］, minimum heart rate ［(76±9) vs.(54±11) 1/min］, mean heart rate ［(95±16) vs.(73±13) 1/min］, supraventricular premature beats ［(353±72) vs.(92±37) 1/24 h］, ventricular premature beats ［(327±75) vs.(98±27) 1/24 h］, supraventricular tachycardia cases (69 vs. 15), atrial fibrillation cases (28 vs. 12), ST-T change cases (59 vs. 23) and J-wave cases (21 vs. 4) between acute and stable periods (P<0.05 or P<0.01). CONCLUSION: Asthma during acute period can induce varied electrocardiogram changes and arrhythmia, possibly due to anoxia, catecholamine increase, right ventricular hypertrophy, and acid-base and electrolyte disorders.