Cardiac arrhythmias Cardiac arrhythmias are often the cause of falls

Falls are a common cause of senior injury. It is not uncommon for cardiac arrhythmias to cause these fall events. At least one study came to this conclusion, in which subjects with the tendency to falls an event recorder had been implanted.

The research team examined 70 fall patients at the average age of 70 years. All subjects had visited an emergency room at least twice during the previous year due to a fall. There, they were examined for causative factors (orthostatic hypotension, carotid sinus syndrome, vasovagal syncope, sinus bradycardia, AV block, supraventricular tachycardia), but without result.

The heart is often responsible for falls in old age. Picture: Kzenon - fotolia

The doctors implanted an event recorder subcutaneously in the left parasternal region. In 50 patients (70%), the devices used had cardiac arrhythmias, including atrial fibrillation (4 patients), supraventricular tachycardia (12) and bradycardia (34). In 14 patients (20%) coincident with the arrhythmia occurred a fall or a syncope. Thirty-six patients (51 percent) showed arrhythmias in the event recorder records that were not directly related to falls or fainting.

Every fifth study patient, who had suffered falls from previously unexplained causes, had an arrhythmia that could explain the fall accidents. Basically, a proven arrhythmia, be it associated with a fall or not, is associated with an increased risk of further falls. The study can be found here. (Pm)