What is associated with an increased risk of arrhythmias?

What is associated with an increased risk of arrhythmias?

• A. Presence of frequent unifocal PVCs
• B. High heart rates
• C. Low blood pressure
• D. Infrequent PVCs

Answer: (A)

The presence of frequent unifocal premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) is associated with an increased risk of arrhythmias due to their potential to disrupt the normal electrical conduction pathway of the heart. Unifocal PVCs originate from a single ectopic focus in the ventricles and can indicate underlying cardiac issues, especially when they occur frequently. This frequent occurrence can lead to more complex arrhythmias, as the heart tries to cope with these irregular impulses.

In contrast, high heart rates, while capable of leading to various cardiac issues, do not directly imply arrhythmias in the same way that frequent unifocal PVCs do. Low blood pressure may cause complications or symptoms but is not inherently a risk factor for arrhythmias in the same direct manner. Lastly, infrequent PVCs are generally considered benign and are less likely to interfere with normal heart rhythm compared to their frequent counterparts. This makes the correlation between frequent unifocal PVCs and a heightened risk of arrhythmias particularly significant in cardiac health assessments.