Clinical management of arrhythmias in elderly patients: results of the European Heart Rhythm Association survey

Europace. 2015 Feb;17(2):314-7. doi: 10.1093/europace/euv010.

Abstract

The purpose of this survey was to assess clinical practice in management of cardiac arrhythmias in elderly patients (age ≥75 years) in the European countries. The data are based on an electronic questionnaire sent to the European Heart Rhythm Association Research Network members. Responses were received from 50 centres in 20 countries. The results of the survey have shown that management of cardiac arrhythmias is generally in accordance with the guidelines and consensus recommendations on management of cardiac arrhythmias, although there are some areas of variation, especially on age limit and exclusion of elderly patients for anticoagulation, ablation, and device therapy.

Keywords: Ablation; Antiarrhythmic drugs; Anticoagulation; Arrhythmia; Cardiac resynchronization therapy; Elderly; Implantable cardioverter-defibrillator; Pacemaker.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Anticoagulants / therapeutic use
  • Arrhythmias, Cardiac / therapy*
  • Atrial Fibrillation / complications
  • Atrial Fibrillation / therapy
  • Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy / methods*
  • Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy Devices
  • Catheter Ablation / methods*
  • Death, Sudden, Cardiac / prevention & control*
  • Defibrillators, Implantable
  • Europe
  • Guideline Adherence / statistics & numerical data*
  • Humans
  • Practice Guidelines as Topic*
  • Practice Patterns, Physicians' / statistics & numerical data*
  • Stroke / etiology
  • Stroke / prevention & control
  • Surveys and Questionnaires

Substances

  • Anti-Arrhythmia Agents
  • Anticoagulants