Introduction: To date, there is no current knowledge concerning the incidence of tachy- and bradyarrhythmias in patients admitted in the Coronary Care Unit (CCU). The aim of our study is to evaluate the incidence of cardiac arrhythmias in patients in the CCU.
Methods: We have enrolled all patients admitted in the CCU from 1/1/2012 to 31/12/2012. From the study were excluded patients admitted for arrhythmiological cause.
Results: From a total of 615 admissions, 59,5% were due to acute coronary syndromes, 29,8% acute pulmonary oedema, 3,9% myocarditis, 0,9% acute aortic syndromes and 5,8% other causes. 19,5% of all patients had a significant arrhythmia. The most common arrhythmias were non-sustained VT 32,5%, ventricular fibrillation or fast ventricular tachycardia 27,5%, atrial fibrillation 22,5% slow VT 10%, atrioventricular disturbances 7,5%. From all the patients admitted in the CCU due to STEMI of the inferior wall of the left ventricle 9,6% had complete heart block. None of the patients with myocarditis experiences any significant arrhythmia.
Conclusions: Arrhythmias are frequently observed in patients admitted in the CCU even though therapeutical approach has significantly improved.