Objective: To assess the relationship between single, paired and grouped supraventricular extrasystoles (SVEs) and paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF) in patients with ischemic heart disease (IHD) and arterial hypertension (AH) using 24‑hour Holter ECG monitoring.

Methods: Seventy-four patients (mean age 54.6 ± 5.8 years) with verified IHD manifested by exertional angina (NYHA I–II) and AH grade I–II were examined. The study was approved by the ethics committee of Tver State Medical University and conducted at the Regional Clinical Cardiology Dispensary (Tver). Exclusion criteria included age >72, persistent/permanent AF, heart failure NYHA III–IV, postinfarction cardiosclerosis, valvular disease, thyroid disease, or acute conditions. Assessments comprised history, anthropometry, blood pressure, resting ECG, Holter ECG, echocardiography and exercise testing. Holter monitoring identified PAF and single, paired (paired SVES) and/or grouped SVES. Paroxysms lasted 30 seconds to 90 minutes and terminated spontaneously. A comparison group of 30 matched patients without PAF was selected. Categorical data were analyzed using contingency tables and Pearson’s chi-square; significance p < 0.05.

Results: PAF was recorded in 30 of 74 patients (main group). The prevalence of paired and grouped SVES was higher in the PAF group versus controls: paired SVES were 2.3 times more frequent (chi-square = 4.0; p = 0.045) and grouped SVES 2.5 times more frequent (chi-square = 9.2; p = 0.002).

Conclusions: In patients with IHD and AH, paired and especially grouped SVES are positively associated with PAF, suggesting more pronounced structural–functional atrial remodeling in those who experienced PAF.

Artem Komkov has completed his PHD at the age of 30 years from National Research Centre for Preventive Medicine, Russia. He is the MD of endovascular surgery department in City clinical hospital 67 Moscow. He has over 40 publications that have been cited over 144 times, and his publication h-index is 5.