title: Heart rate variability and arrhythmic patterns of 24-hour Holter electrocardiography among Nigerians with cardiovascular diseases.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Facilities for Holter electrocardiography (ECG) monitoring in many Nigerian hospitals are limited. There are few published works in Nigeria on the use of 24-hour Holter ECG in cardiac arrhythmic evaluation of patients with cardiovascular diseases.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To study the clinical indications, arrhythmic pattern, and heart rate variability (HRV) among subjects referred for 24-hour Holter ECG at our Cardiac Care Unit.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three-hundred and ten patients (134 males and 176 females) were studied consecutively over a 48-month period using Schiller type (MT-101) Holter ECG machine.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Out of the 310 patients reviewed, 134 were males (43.2%) and 176 were females (56.8%). The commonest indication for Holter ECG was palpitation followed by syncope in 71 (23%) and 49 (15.8%) of subjects, respectively. Premature ventricular complex and premature atrial complex were the commonest types of arrhythmia in 51.5% and 15% subjects, respectively. Ventricular arrhythmia was more prevalent in dilated cardiomyopathy patients (85.7%). The HRV of subjects with palpitation, stroke, and diabetes mellitus with autonomic neuropathy, using standard deviation of normal to normal intervals average (milliseconds), were 107.32±49.61, 79.15±49.15, and 66.50±15.54, respectively. The HRV, using standard deviation of averages of normal to normal intervals average (milliseconds), of patients with palpitation, stroke, and diabetes mellitus with autonomic neuropathy were 77.39±62.34, 57.82±37.05, and 55.50±12.71, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Palpitation and syncope were the commonest indications for Holter ECG among our subjects. The commonest arrhythmic patterns were premature ventricular complex and premature atrial complex, with ventricular arrhythmia being more prevalent in dilated cardiomyopathy. There was a reduction in HRV in patients with stroke and diabetic autonomic neuropathy.
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Unit, Department of Medicine, Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex (OAUTHC), Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Rasaaq Ayodele
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Adebayo
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Unit, Department of Medicine, Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex (OAUTHC), Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Amanze Nkemjika
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Ikwu
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Unit, Department of Medicine, Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex (OAUTHC), Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Michael Olabode
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Balogun
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Unit, Department of Medicine, Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex (OAUTHC), Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Anthony Olubunmi
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Akintomide
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Unit, Department of Medicine, Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex (OAUTHC), Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Olufemi Eyitayo
authors.initials: OE
authors.lastname: Ajayi
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Unit, Department of Medicine, Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex (OAUTHC), Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Victor Oladeji
authors.initials: VO
authors.lastname: Adeyeye
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Unit, Department of Medicine, Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex (OAUTHC), Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Tuoyo Omasan
authors.initials: TO
authors.lastname: Mene-Afejuku
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Unit, Department of Medicine, Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex (OAUTHC), Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Olaniyi James
authors.initials: OJ
authors.lastname: Bamikole
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Unit, Department of Medicine, Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex (OAUTHC), Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Suraj Adefabi
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Ogunyemi
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Unit, Department of Medicine, Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex (OAUTHC), Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Adeola Olubunmi
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Ajibare
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Unit, Department of Medicine, Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex (OAUTHC), Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Omolola Abiodun
authors.initials: OA
authors.lastname: Oketona
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D018880:Atrial Premature Complexes / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000150:complications; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015716:Electrocardiography, Ambulatory; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013575:Syncope / Q000150:complications*; D018879:Ventricular Premature Complexes / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Holter electrocardiography; Nigerians; arrhythmia; cardiovascular diseases; heart rate