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Back to Cardiovascular Diseases
Atrial tachycardia
Introduction
Atrial Tachycardia is a heart rhythm driven by pacemaker activity in
atrial sites other than the SA node. Automatic atrial tachycardia is
typically associated with heart rates ranging from 150-200 beats/minute.
The heart rate may display a "warm-up" in which the abnormal rhythm
gradually accelerates after initiation. Often atrial tachycardia is
associated with prior heart surgery or lung diseases. The rhythm is most
often associated with structural heart disease such as coronary artery
diseases, myocardial infarction, severe lung disease and drug toxicity.
The origin or focus of the abnormal impulses distinguishes two types of
atrial tachycardia depending upon whether the origin or focus of the
abnormal impulse appears to involve a single (unifocal) site or multiple
(multifocal) sites.
Definition
Atrial tachycardia
A series of 3 or more consecutive atrial premature beats occurring at
a frequency >100/min; usually due to abnormal focus within the atria and
paroxysmal in nature. This type of rhythm includes paroxysmal atrial
tachycardia (PAT).
Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT)
Usually caused by reentry currents within the atria or between
ventricles and atria producing high heart rates of 140-250.
Epidemiology
Incidence
Incidence of paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia is approximately
1-3 per 1000.
Gender
Prevalence is twice as high in women compared to men, but may occur
in either sex, and the prevalence increases with age.
Age
SVT may occur at any age but often occurs in younger people in the
absence of heart disease.
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