ventricular ectopy & exercise - Heart Disorders Message Board

sjde · 01-06-2005, 10:55 PM

I recently found out through a treadmill test that I have frequent (>6/minute) asymptomatic ventricular ectopy. PVC's. Premature ventricular contractions. Pretty harmless, I believe, but could this be the reason I have always felt I get winded easily while running, and can't seem to build up much endurance? Thanks!

Sue

Lenin · 01-07-2005, 06:12 AM

Sue,
It's not all that harmless.
There's a big study (30,000 people) that shows a somehat increased risk of death if the ectopic (premature) beats occur on exercise but a 240% increased risk if the ectopic beats start during RECOVERY from exercise.

Quote:

Frequent ventricular ectopy during exercise predicted an increased risk of death (five-year death rate, 9 percent, vs. 5 percent among patients without frequent ventricular ectopy during exercise; hazard ratio, 1.8; 95 percent confidence interval, 1.5 to 2.1; P<0.001), but frequent ventricular ectopy during recovery was a stronger predictor (11 percent vs. 5 percent; hazard ratio, 2.4; 95 percent confidence interval, 2.0 to 2.9; P<0.001). After propensity matching for confounding variables, frequent ventricular ectopy during recovery predicted an increased risk of death (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.5; 95 percent confidence interval, 1.1 to 1.9; P=0.003), but frequent ventricular ectopy during exercise did not (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.1; 95 percent confidence interval, 0.9 to 1.3; P=0.53).

Conclusions Frequent ventricular ectopy during recovery after exercise is a better predictor of an increased risk of death than ventricular ectopy occurring only during exercise.

KarenBeth · 01-08-2005, 09:43 PM

Well what did the Doctor say when he saw those PVC's on the treadmill test? was he concerned? If it was a REAL huge concern, he would have told you.

Machaon · 01-09-2005, 05:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lenin

Sue,
It's not all that harmless.
There's a big study (30,000 people) that shows a somehat increased risk of death if the ectopic (premature) beats occur on exercise but a 240% increased risk if the ectopic beats start during RECOVERY from exercise.

Statistics can be fun to play with, but very misleading.

What does your "240% increased risk" mean? How does it relate to Sue's question?

Also, what is the "hazard" ratio mean? Do you know the meaning of the 95 "percent confidence interval, 2.0 to 2.9; P<0.001", that you posted?

I appreciate your input on this question. It's nice to have someone who can interpret confusing test results.

Lenin · 01-09-2005, 06:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by beerzoids

Statistics can be fun to play with, but very misleading.

I wasn't "playing."

Quote:

What does your "240% increased risk" mean?

That seems self-evident to me...the correct quote was "risk OF DEATH." [/QUOTE]

Quote:

How does it relate to Sue's question?

Sue, made the comment: "Pretty harmless, I believe." I was indicating to her that perhaps it's not quite so harmless. Whether it is causing her breath shorntess or not, I'm not sure, but the shortness of breath certainly isn't a MITIGATING factor.

Quote:

Do you know the meaning of the 95 "percent confidence interval, 2.0 to 2.9; P<0.001", that you posted?

Yes, I do.

Quote:

I appreciate your input on this question. It's nice to have someone who can interpret confusing test results.

Thank you!

What I sould hope that Sue got from the study is the need to ascertain WHEN the ectopic beats began and if they began at rest AFTER exercise to perhaps take further action.