Changes in Electrocardiogram in Patients With Spontaneous Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Background Electrocardiographic (ECG) changes are frequently reported findings in patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). We conducted a retrospective descriptive study to assess the prevalence of electrocardiographic changes in patients with non-traumatic SAH. Methods In this single-center retrospective cross-sectional study, ECG recordings of 45 patients who presented to Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital in the year 2019 with SAH were collected and analyzed to detect any abnormalities. Results In our study, 88.8% of patients had some form of ECG abnormality. The most common ECG abnormalities associated with SAH were QTc prolongation, T-wave abnormalities, and bradycardia, which were found, respectively, in 35.5%, 24.4%, and 24.4% of the patients. Other ECG changes we observed include ST depression, large U-waves, atrial fibrillation, and premature ventricular contractions. Conclusion Morphological and rhythm abnormalities are frequently observed in patients with SAH, which may cause diagnostic dilemmas and unnecessary workups. Further studies are required to evaluate their significance and correlate ECG changes with clinical outcomes.