The prevalence and prognosis of third-degree atrioventricular conduction block: the Reykjavik study

To access publisher full text version of this article. Please click on the hyperlink in Additional Links field OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this study were to find the prevalence of third-degree atrioventricular block in representative population sample and to estimate its prognostic significance....

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of Internal Medicine
Main Authors: Kojic, E M, Hardarson, T, Sigfusson, N, Sigvaldason, H
Other Authors: Department of Medicine, National University Hospital, Reykjavik, Iceland.
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Blackwell Scientific Publications 2008
Subjects:
Adult
Aged
Atrioventricular Node
Electrocardiography
Female
Heart Block
Humans
Iceland
Male
Middle Aged
Prevalence
Prognosis
Prospective Studies
Severity of Illness Index
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/2336/47083
https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2796.1999.00521.x
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Summary:To access publisher full text version of this article. Please click on the hyperlink in Additional Links field OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this study were to find the prevalence of third-degree atrioventricular block in representative population sample and to estimate its prognostic significance. Most earlier studies have been performed on hospital patients and some professional groups. SETTING AND SUBJECTS: In the Reykjavik Study, a prospective cardiovascular population study, 9139 men and 9773 women aged 33-79 years were examined in 1967-91. Electrocardiograms were taken and coded according to the Minnesota code. Third-degree atrioventricular block was found in 11 persons, seven male and four female, an overall prevalence of 0.04%. All of these individuals had signs of dysrhythmia on electrocardiograms taken later, and in addition some other heart disease. The heart block was temporary in seven individuals (64%); six (55%) needed a pacemaker. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of third-degree atrioventricular block in this general population was low. The block was temporary in the majority of subjects. All had some underlying heart disease, which may affect the prognosis more than the heart block. Fewer subjects than expected were found to need a pacemaker.

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