Multifocal Atrial Tachycardia

The Natural History of Multifocal Atrial Rhythms in Elderly Outpatients: Insights from the “Ikaria Study”

“…18 In a retrospective study conducted in hospitalized patients with multifocal atrial tachycardia, only 22% had a correct interpretation of their ECG. 15,17 In the present study, the rate of ischemic stroke during follow-up period was similar between subjects with MARs and those without. Although the association of MARs with advanced age is well established, data on sex predominance are conflicting, with some studies reporting male and others female predominance.…”

“…10, 12-14, 16, 17 Another plausible explanation is that MARs are frequently misdiagnosed as atrial fibrillation by both automated electrocardiographic interpretation software and interpreting physicians. 15,17 The reported rate of multifocal atrial tachycardia progression to atrial fibrillation or flutter ranges from 46% to 55% of cases. 12 In this study, subjects with MARs were older, more often female and less physically active.…”

“…Thus, MARs should be probably considered as a consequence of agerelated sinus dysfunction, which could eventually precede more chaotic arrhythmias such as atrial fibrillation and flutter. 15,17 The reported rate of multifocal atrial tachycardia progression to atrial fibrillation or flutter ranges from 46% to 55% of cases. 15,17 In the present study, the rate of ischemic stroke during follow-up period was similar between subjects with MARs and those without.…”

“…15,17 The reported rate of multifocal atrial tachycardia progression to atrial fibrillation or flutter ranges from 46% to 55% of cases. 15,17 In the present study, the rate of ischemic stroke during follow-up period was similar between subjects with MARs and those without. In this perspective, MARs do not seem to increase stroke incidence.…”

Evidence supporting a new rate threshold for multifocal atrial tachycardia

“…1,2,5 Patients with MAT have a high in-hospital mortality because of the severity of the underlying illnesses, reportedly ranging from 38-62%. 2,6,7 The tachycardia threshold for MAT had long been established at 100 beats/min but never formally examined. In this study, we proposed that the tachycardia threshold should be lower (Fig.…”