Heart rhythm : the official journal of the Heart Rhythm Society
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Multicenter Study
Heart rate turbulence predicts all-cause mortality and sudden death in congestive heart failure patients.
Abnormal heart rate turbulence (HRT) has been documented as a strong predictor of total mortality and sudden death in postinfarction patients, but data in patients with congestive heart failure (CHF) are limited. ⋯ HRT is a potent risk predictor for both heart failure and arrhythmic death in patients with class II and III CHF.
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Sudden death of a sibling is thought to be associated with greater risk of death in long QT syndrome (LQTS). However, there is no evidence of such an association. ⋯ Sudden death of a sibling prompted more aggressive treatment but did not predict risk of death or ACA, whereas QTc >/= 0.53 s, gender, and syncope predicted this risk. All subjects should receive appropriate beta-blocker therapy. The decision to implant an ICD should be based on an individual's own risk characteristics (QTc, gender, and history of syncope).