MULTIFOCALATRIAL TACHYCARDIA IN CASES OF CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE

Multifocal atrial tachycardia can present in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. Objective: To determine the 
frequency of multifocal atrial tachycardia in cases with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. Methodology: This was a cross 
st st sectional study that was conducted at Sheikh Zayed Hospital, Rahim Yar Khan, from 1 July to 31 December 2017. The cases of 
COPD irrespective of gender and age, more than 40 years with COPD diagnosed at least for more than 1 year were included. The 
diagnosis of COPD was made according to the GOLD COPD guideline with FEV1/FVC ratio < 0.70 and with insignificant 
bronchodilation of less than 12%. They were subdivided according to GOLD guidelines. The cases with end stage renal, liver or 
cardiac disease and those with electrolyte imbalance were excluded. The diagnosis of multifocal atrial tachycardia (MAT) was 
made where there was heart rate of more than 100 beats per minute and P wave revealed at least three different morphologies on 
ECG. Data was entered in SPSS version 23 and analyzed. Results: In present study, 100 cases of COPD were included with mean 
age of 51.41±9.43 years. There were 78 (78%) males and 22 (22%) females. MATwas seen in 12 (12%) of the cases. There was no 
significant difference in terms of gender with p= 1.04. MAT was significantly high in cases that had COPD for more than 5 years 
where it was seen in 10 (15.15%) of cases with p= 0.03. MAT was also significantly high were it was observed in 10 (14.70%) of 
cases with very severe disease and none in mild disease with p= 0.02. Conclusion: Multifocal atrial tachycardia (MAT) is seen in 
th almost every 10 cases and it is significantly high in cases with duration of COPD more than 5 years and with very severe disease.