- Abstract -

The objective of the study was to evaluate the incidence, prognosis and risk factors of ventricular arrhythmias during 24-h ambulatory electrocardiographic registration in a sample of men between 50 and 60 years, with and without signs of cardiovascular disease.

Methods: The study cohort consisted of 59 patients with or without coronary heart disease, who presented on 24 h ambulatory ECG registration ventricular arrhythmias. They all had non-invasive examinations of leg and carotid arteries. In a logistic regression, factors as smoking, hypertension and diabetes mellitus were significant and independent determinants of frequent or complex arrhythmias in men with coronary heart disease. High alcohol consumption was associated ventricular arrhythmias in men without CVD.

Conclusion: Ambulatory ECG recording is a diagnostic method that improves risk assessment in men with CVD. Complex ventricular arrhythmias were associated with smoking, hypertension and diabetes mellitus.

Key words: Incidence of ventricular arrhythmias-ambulatory ECG recording- risk factors-cardiovascular disease