Abstract

24-hour ambulatory ECG monitoring has been examined for the evaluation of heart rate and longest pause in 34 patients with chronic atrial fibrillation (20 patients treated with digoxin and 14 patients without treatment). Following results were obtained: 1. In 34 patients, the mean of average heart rates was 75.7±13.8/minute, fastest heart rates 148.0±32.4/minute, slowest heart rates 48.1±8.4/minute, difference between fastest and slowest heart rates in individual patients 99.9±29.0/minute and longest pauses 2.95±1.06seconds. The longest pauses of more than 4.0 seconds occurred in 4 of the 34 patients and made an exception of comparison groups. 2. In 27 of the 34 patients, ventricular premature contractures were developed and in 11 of 27, mainly occurred less than 100/24 hours and aberrant conduction occurred in all patients. 3. In 20 patients treated with digoxin (0.25 mg/day), the mean of average heart rates was 78.4±13.7/minute, fastest heart rates 152.5±33.1/minute, slowest heart rates 48.9±8.5/minute, difference between fastest and slowest heart rates in individual patients 103.6±31.7/minute and longest pauses 2.55±0.50 seconds. 4. In 10 patients without treatment, the mean of average heart rates was 78.0±10.7/minute, fastest heart rates 154.5±26.8/minute, slowest heart rates 50.6±7.1/minute, difference between fastest and slowest heart rates in individual patients 103.9±22.2/minute and longest pauses 2.66±0.39 seconds. 5. The difference of heart rates and longest pauses between patients with treatment and without treatment were statistically not significant (P>0.05). In summary, authors seemed to consider that 24-hour ambulatory ECG was useful and safe method for clinical evaluation of patients with chronic atrial fibrillation.