Predictors of sudden cardiovascular death in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with connective tissue dysplasia

Abstract

Connective tissue dysplasia (CTD) occurs in 70% of the patients with obstructive bronchial pathology. It promotes the development of electrical instability of myocardium and life-threatening arrhythmias. We studied electrocardiographic markers of myocardial instability in patients with chronic obstructive bronchial pathology and CTD markers. Such patients were shown to more frequently have ventricular and supraventricular arrhythmias, decreased circadian heart rate index and enhanced heart rhythm variability. Other findings included high frequency of such predictors of sudden cardiovascular death as prolonged and enhanced dispersion of QT intervals, T-wave microalternation, late atrial and ventricular potentials. The arrhythmic activity and the occurrence ofpredictors of sudden cardiovascular death increased in the patients aged above 60 years with obstructive bronchial pathology and CTD.