Temporal distribution of arrhythmic events in chronic kidney disease: Highest incidence in the long interdialytic period

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients undergoing hemodialysis (HD) have a high risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD). A unique risk factor may be a longer interval between HD sessions (interdialytic period). Inherent in conventional HD (thrice-weekly) are two 48-hour short breaks (SIDP) and one 72-hour long break (LIDP) between HD sessions. OBJECTIVE: We used an implantable cardiac monitor (ICM) to define the incidence and timing of significant arrhythmias in an HD population. METHODS: Fifty CKD patients undergoing HD with left ventricular ejection fraction >35% had an ICM inserted, with intensive follow-up to record SCD events and predefined bradyarrhythmias and tachyarrhythmias. R..