Cardiac arrhythmias in the elderly.

A study of 20 asymptomatic elderly people living at home or in residential care and 20 symptomatic elderly subjects (with falls, 'collapse', dizziness, 'funny turns' etc.) revealed that cardiac arrhythmias are common in both groups. Only three of the asymptomatic group and two of the symptomatic group had sinus rhythm throughout their 24-hour electrocardiographic recordings. In the symptomatic group, the arrhythmias bore no relation to the symptoms. Clinical follow-up of up to 6-9 months revealed that elderly people with rhythm abnormalities noted on 24-hour electrocardiographic recording do not develop symptoms.