[Arrhythmia in patients after 80 years of age].

The purpose of the work is detection and assessment of heart rhythm disturbances in elderly patients treated in the Department of Cardiology in Lublin for various circulatory system diseases. The study includes 66 patients aged 80-98 years, mean age 83.7 years (46 women and 23 men). During 24-hour ECG monitoring by Holter method the occurrence was evaluated of heart rhythm disturbances due to hyperexcitability and conduction disorders as well as the frequency of their treatment either pharmacological or by constant electrostimulation. Arrhythmias due to hyperexcitability were found in 96% of the patients and they were mostly supraventricular (89%). Atrioventricular conduction disturbances occurred in 35% of the patients. Ventricular arrhythmia requiring treatment (group 4 and 5 according to Lown) occurred in 19% of the patients. Electrostimulation therapy was used in 31.8% of the patients.