Evaluation of the risk factors of hemodialysis procedure-associated cardiac arrhythmias in end stage renal disease Egyptian patients

Abstract

Background: Hemodialysis patients carry a large burden of cardiovascular disease, accounting for up to 41% of deaths, of which half are ascribed to sudden cardiac death (SCD). The pathophysiology of SCD is thought to result from the combination of a vulnerable myocardium and an acute pro-arrhythmic trigger that leads to a terminal arrhythmia. Approximately two thirds of the cardiac deaths are consistently attributed to arrhythmias. Aim: The study aimed to improve the clinical status of hemodialysis (HD) patients through detection of HD procedure associated cardiac arrhythmias, prevention of its risk factors and related complications. Subjects and Methods: Observational study that included 60 maintenance HD patients to assess the prevalence of electrocardiographic changes before, during, and after HD in patients who are on maintenance HD in the out/inpatient departments of Suez Canal University. Results: The study showed a high prevalence of electrocardiographic changes among the studied sample, representing 78.3%. Receiving HD for more than 5 years, glomerulonephritis (GN) being the primary cause of end stage renal disease (ESRD), intradialytic hypotension (IDH), and high pre-dialysis Na, K, and Po4 were all factors that were statistically significant associated with electrocardiographic changes.