Exponential increase in age-specific prevalence of ventricular dysrhythmia among males.
Analyzing nine available studies of cardiac dysrhythmia among males shows an exponential increase of the prevalence of dysrhythmia with increased age (16-74 yr). This pattern appears in unselected populations and in populations selected for prior history of myocardial infarction. In 6 of 9 population groups the exponent for the rate of increased prevalence of any ventricular premature contractions (VPCs) with age was statistically indistinguishable from study to study despite variations in length of monitoring, of local interpretations of ECG, or of differences in the composition of these groups. Within each population group the prevalence of "frequent" VPCs or of "complex" VPCs also increased exponentially with age. The precise mathematical expression for the increase suggests an etiologic explanation for cardiac dysrhythmia common to coronary artery disease and myocardial infarctions which exhibit similar behavior.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005117:Cardiac Complexes, Premature / Q000453:epidemiology; D004562:Electrocardiography; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged