Psvt And Stroke: Is There A Link?

Paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT) is a common cardiac arrhythmia characterised by recurrent episodes of narrow QRS complex tachycardia with a regular ventricular response initiated by the atria and/or atrioventricular node. PSVT has traditionally been considered a benign rhythm disorder, but recent studies have suggested that patients with PSVT may have a higher risk of ischaemic stroke.

A 2013 study found that, in a large and demographically diverse sample of patients, there was an independent association between PSVT and ischaemic stroke. The study used administrative claims data from all emergency department encounters and hospitalisations at California's non-federal acute care hospitals in 2009. Of 4,806,830 eligible patients, 14,121 (0.29%) were diagnosed with PSVT and 14,402 (0.30%) experienced a stroke. The cumulative rate of stroke after PSVT diagnosis (0.94%) significantly exceeded the rate among patients without a diagnosis of PSVT (0.21%). In Cox proportional hazards analysis, PSVT was independently associated with a higher risk of subsequent stroke (hazard ratio 2.10).

These findings suggest that PSVT is a novel risk factor that may account for some proportion of strokes that are currently classified as cryptogenic. However, the authors note that the findings are hypothesis-generating and require confirmation in prospective studies.

Paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT) is a common cardiac arrhythmia characterised by recurrent episodes of narrow QRS complex tachycardia

PSVT is caused by abnormal electrical activity in the heart, specifically in the atria or upper chambers. This can be due to an extra pathway between the atria and ventricles, or an irritable focus in the atria. This abnormal activity causes the atria to contract very quickly and repeatedly, leading to a fast heart rate.

The symptoms of PSVT include a fast, regular heart rate of over 100 beats per minute, often reaching as high as 250 beats per minute. Other symptoms include palpitations, a fluttering or pounding sensation in the chest, and sudden changes in heart rate. PSVT episodes can also be accompanied by anxiety, confusion, chest pain, difficulty breathing, dizziness, fainting, and fatigue.

PSVT is typically diagnosed using an electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) or a Holter monitor, which is a portable ECG device worn for an extended period to capture any abnormal heart rhythms. Treatment options include lifestyle changes, medications, cardiac procedures, and in rare cases, a pacemaker implant.

In terms of its connection to stroke, recent studies have suggested a potential link between PSVT and an increased risk of ischemic stroke. While PSVT has traditionally been considered a benign condition, some research indicates that it may be associated with a higher risk of stroke, similar to atrial fibrillation. However, the data are limited and inconclusive, and further investigations are needed to establish a causal relationship and determine clinical implications.

PSVT is associated with a higher risk of ischemic stroke

Paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT) is a cardiac arrhythmia characterised by recurrent episodes of narrow QRS complex tachycardia with a regular ventricular response initiated by the atria and/or atrioventricular node. PSVT has traditionally been considered a benign rhythm disorder. However, recent studies have suggested that PSVT may be a risk factor for ischemic stroke.

A retrospective cohort study using administrative claims data from all emergency department encounters and hospitalizations at California's non-federal acute care hospitals in 2009 found that the cumulative rate of stroke after a diagnosis of PSVT (0.94%) significantly exceeded the rate among patients without a diagnosis of PSVT (0.21%). In a Cox proportional hazards analysis controlling for demographic characteristics and potential confounders, PSVT was independently associated with a higher risk of subsequent stroke (hazard ratio, 2.10).

In a large and demographically diverse sample of patients, an independent association between PSVT and ischemic stroke was found. PSVT seems to be a novel risk factor that may account for some proportion of strokes that are currently classified as cryptogenic.

A systematic review and meta-analysis of five studies (four cohort studies and one case-control study) with 4,886,977 participants found that the risk of ischemic stroke among patients with PSVT was significantly higher than in individuals without PSVT (pooled risk ratio, 2.03).

A national case-control study in Taiwan found that independent risk factors for ischemic stroke included age, the male sex, chronic kidney disease, PSVT, and aspirin use.

PSVT is a novel risk factor that may account for some proportion of strokes that are currently classified as cryptogenic

Paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT) is a common cardiac arrhythmia characterised by recurrent episodes of narrow QRS complex tachycardia with a regular ventricular response initiated by the atria and/or atrioventricular node. PSVT has traditionally been considered a benign rhythm disorder. However, recent studies have suggested that PSVT may be a risk factor for ischaemic stroke, similar to atrial fibrillation.

PSVT is more common in older individuals with a high burden of atherosclerotic disease. It may be a manifestation of acquired atrial myocardial disease in the setting of cardiovascular risk factors. Therefore, rather than simply reflecting an atrial or atrioventricular nodal anomaly present at birth, PSVT may be a consequence of conductive tissue injury from associated cardiovascular diseases.

PSVT has been associated with a higher risk of ischaemic stroke in several studies. In a large and demographically diverse sample of patients, PSVT was found to be independently associated with ischaemic stroke. In a retrospective cohort study using administrative claims data from all emergency department encounters and hospitalizations at California's non-federal acute care hospitals in 2009, the cumulative rate of stroke after PSVT diagnosis (0.94%) significantly exceeded the rate among patients without a diagnosis of PSVT (0.21%). In a national case-control study in Taiwan, PSVT was found to be a significant risk factor for ischaemic stroke.

PSVT seems to be a novel risk factor that may account for some proportion of strokes that are currently classified as cryptogenic. However, the data are still relatively limited and inconclusive. Further investigations are required to determine whether this association is causal and how it should be addressed in clinical practice.

PSVT is independently associated with a higher risk of subsequent stroke

Paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT) is a common cardiac arrhythmia characterised by recurrent episodes of narrow QRS complex tachycardia with a regular ventricular response initiated by the atria and/or atrioventricular node. PSVT has traditionally been considered a benign rhythm disorder. However, recent studies have suggested that patients with PSVT may have a higher risk of ischemic stroke.

A retrospective cohort study using administrative claims data from all emergency department encounters and hospitalizations at California's non-federal acute care hospitals in 2009 found that, of 4,806,830 eligible patients, 14,121 (0.29%) were diagnosed with PSVT and 14,402 (0.30%) experienced a stroke. The cumulative rate of stroke after PSVT diagnosis (0.94%) significantly exceeded the rate among patients without a diagnosis of PSVT (0.21%). In a Cox proportional hazards analysis controlling for demographic characteristics and potential confounders, PSVT was independently associated with a higher risk of subsequent stroke (hazard ratio: 2.10).

A separate study, using a national case-control design, found that PSVT was associated with a higher risk of ischemic stroke (odds ratio: 2.05).

These findings suggest that PSVT is a novel risk factor that may account for some proportion of strokes that are currently classified as cryptogenic.

PSVT is a significant risk factor for ischemic stroke

Paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT) is a significant risk factor for ischemic stroke. In a large-scale study of over 4.8 million patients, PSVT was found to be independently associated with a higher risk of subsequent stroke. The study, which was conducted in California, found that the cumulative rate of stroke after a PSVT diagnosis was significantly higher than the rate among patients without a PSVT diagnosis. This association remained significant even after adjusting for demographic characteristics and other potential confounders, such as age, sex, race, and cardiovascular comorbidities.

The exact mechanism linking PSVT and ischemic stroke is not yet fully understood, but several potential explanations have been proposed. One theory suggests that PSVT may lead to the development of atrial cardiomyopathy, which can cause structural changes in the atria and increase the risk of thrombus formation. Another possibility is that PSVT may increase the risk of subsequent atrial fibrillation, which is a well-known risk factor for thromboembolic events.

The association between PSVT and ischemic stroke has been further supported by other studies, including a national case-control study in Taiwan, which found that PSVT was a significant risk factor for ischemic stroke. This suggests that PSVT may be a novel risk factor for ischemic stroke and that new antithrombotic strategies may be warranted for patients with PSVT to reduce their risk of stroke.

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