Abstract | BACKGROUND:
Sympathomimetic agents have a direct positive chronotropic effect on heart rate and may cause hypokalemia, even when administered by inhalation. In selected patients (e.g., patients with congestive heart failure [CHF]) this can lead to arrhythmias. Despite the potential adverse effects of these agents, they are used frequently in patients with CHF, due to a high incidence of respiratory comorbidity. This study investigates the effects of sympathomimetics on the incidence of hospitalizations for arrhythmias in patients with CHF. METHODS: In a cohort of 1208 patients with a validated hospital discharge diagnosis of CHF, we identified 149 cases with a readmission for arrhythmias, and compared these in a nested matched case-control design with 149 controls from the remainder of the cohort with no hospital readmission for any cardiac cause. Conditional logistic regression was used to calculate the risk for hospitalization for arrhythmias associated with exposure to sympathomimetic agents, expressed as odds ratios. RESULTS: CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study strongly suggest an increased risk of hospitalization for arrhythmias in patients with CHF treated with sympathomimetic drugs. Sympathomimetics should be given under close surveillance to patients with CHF.
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Authors | M L Bouvy, E R Heerdink, M L De Bruin, R M Herings, H G Leufkens, A W Hoes |
Journal | Archives of internal medicine
(Arch Intern Med)
Vol. 160
Issue 16
Pg. 2477-80
(Sep 11 2000)
ISSN: 0003-9926 [Print] United States |
PMID | 10979059
(Publication Type: Journal Article)
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Chemical References |
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Topics |
- Aged
- Arrhythmias, Cardiac
(chemically induced)
- Case-Control Studies
- Female
- Heart Failure
(drug therapy)
- Hospitalization
- Humans
- Male
- Netherlands
- Sympathomimetics
(adverse effects, therapeutic use)
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