Cardiac Arrhythmias in End-Stage Renal Disease

Abstract

In 16 patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD), 24 h ECG recordings showed an incidence of supraventricular and ventricular arrhythmias similar to that in patients who formerly had myocardial infarction and in low-risk subjects. Eight patients (50%) with ESRD had supraventricular complexes. This incidence was significantly higher than that after myocardial infarction (P < 0.001). Fifteen ESRD patients (94%) had premature ventricular complexes (PVC), including 9 (56%) with complex PVC (multiform PVC, couplets or runs). The incidence of PVC and complex PVC in patients with ESRD was comparable to that of the patients who formerly had myocardial infarction, but was significantly higher than that found in low-risk subjects (P < 0.005 for PVCs and P < 0.05 for complex PVC). The high incidence of complex PVCs in patients with ESRD may predispose them to increased cardiovascular death.