Characterization of electrocardiographic findings and their relationship with mortality in acute cerebrovascular disease

Abstract

Introduction: In Cuba, descriptive and experimental studies that explore cardiovascular disorders secondary to neurological diseases are scarce, both in the clinical and neurocardiology fields. Objectives: To characterize the electrocardiographic findings in the first 72 hours of evolution of the cerebrovascular disease and its relation to mortality. Method: An observational, descriptive, longitudinal prospective study was carried out in 166 patients admitted to the Hospital Clínico-Quirúrgico Joaquín Albarrán, with the diagnosis of cerebrovascular disease of any etiology and form of presentation, during the period of January 2015 to December 2016. Results: Electrocardiographic findings were present in 32.5% of patients, mainly sinus tachycardia (27.7%), T wave inversion and premature atrial contractions (13.3% each). A significantly higher frequency of electrocardiographic changes was found in patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage (33.3% vs. 5.4%), lower score on the Glasgow coma scale (29.7% vs. 5.4%) and location at the level of the basal ganglia (50.0%). The presence of new electrocardiographic findings was related to a 7.2 times greater probability of in-hospital death (40.7% vs. 7.1%). Conclusions: The presence of new electrocardiographic alterations in patients with cerebrovascular disease can be used as a marker of risk of in-hospital mortality.