Electrocardiographic patterns of exercise-induced ventricular arrhythmias in patients with and without coronary artery disease

Abstract

Objectives: This study was carried out to compare the electrocardiographic characteristics of exercise-induced ventricular arrhythmias (EIVA) in patients with and without coronary artery disease (CAD). Methods: The exercise tests of patients who were diagnosed to have EIVA and also underwent coronary angiography were analyzed retrospectively. The electrocardiographic patterns of EIVA in patients with and without CAD were compared. Results: The most common EIVA was premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) with left bundle-branch block (LBBB) pattern and inferior axis in both groups (63% in normal coronary artery (NCA) group and 59% in CAD group). PVCs with right bundle-branch block (RBBB) pattern and superior axis (33% vs. 17%, p=0.001) and the presence of multifocal PVC were found to be more frequent in CAD group (23% vs. 7%, p