Premature Ventricular Complexes: Assessing Burden Density in a Large National Cohort to Better Define Optimal ECG Monitoring Duration

BACKGROUND

Premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) burden is a risk factor for heart failure and cardiovascular death in patients with structural heart disease. Long-term ECG monitoring can have a significant impact on PVC burden evaluation by further defining PVC distribution patterns.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to ascertain the optimal duration of ECG monitoring to characterize PVC burden and understand clinical characteristics associated with frequent PVCs and NSVT in a large US cohort.

METHODS

Commercial data (iRhythm's Zio patch) from June 2011 to April 2022 were analyzed. Inclusion criteria were age >18 years, PVC burden ≥5%, and wear period ≥13 days. PVC burden cutoffs were determined based on AHA/ACC/HRS guidelines for very frequent PVCs (10,000-20,000 over 24 hours). Patients were categorized by PVC densities : Low (<10%), Moderate (10% to <20%) and High (≥20%). Mean measured error was assessed at baseline and daily until wear period's end for overall PVC Burden and different PVC densities.

RESULTS

Analysis of 106,705 patch monitors revealed a study population with mean age of 70.6±14.6 years; 33.6% female. PVC burden was higher in males and those >65 years of age. PVC burden mean error decreased from 2.9% at 24 hours to 1.3% at 7 days, and 0.7% at 10 days. Number of VT episodes per patient increased with increasing PVC burden (p<0.0001).

CONCLUSION

Extending ambulatory monitoring beyond 24 hours to 7 days or more, improves accuracy of assessing PVC burden. VT frequency and duration vary based on initial PVC density, highlighting the need for prolonged cardiac monitoring.