Tachycardia Signs and Symptoms

Signs and Symptoms

Definition

Tachycardia is defined as a cardiac rate that is increased to >100 beats/minute (bpm)
Tachyarrhythmia is used to describe tachycardia in the presence of cardiac rhythm abnormality

Epidemiology

Ventricular tachycardia (VT) is more common in male patients with a history of cardiac disease and increases with age
Atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT) is more common in women than in men
In adolescents, AVNRT and atrioventricular reentrant tachycardia (AVRT) are more prevalent
Use of the accessory pathway for tachycardia is more frequent in younger population and decreases with age

Signs and Symptoms

Serious signs and symptoms are often demonstrated at ventricular rates >150 bpm

Signs and symptoms related to rapid heart rate (HR):

Altered sensorium
Angina
Hypotension
Shortness of breath
Myocardial infarction
Palpitations
Syncope, lightheadedness
Shirt flapping/neck pulsations (more common in AVNRT)
Polyuria (more common in AVNRT)
Other signs of shock (eg cold clammy skin, low urine output), heart failure or pulmonary congestion

Risk Factors

Hypertension
Diabetes mellitus (DM)
Obesity
Smoking
Increasing age
Valvular heart disease
Heart failure
Myocardial infarction
Cardiothoracic surgery
Excessive alcohol intake

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