From the Guidelines
Paroxysmal nonsustained supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) affects approximately 1-3 cases per 1000 persons, with a prevalence of 0.2% in the general population, and the risk is twice as high in women than in men. The condition typically presents with symptoms such as palpitations, chest discomfort, fatigue, light-headedness, shortness of breath, anxiety, dizziness, dyspnoea, and, uncommonly, syncope 1.
Key Statistics
- The incidence of SVT is 1–3 cases per 1000 persons, with a prevalence of 0.2% in the general population 1.
- The risk of developing paroxysmal SVT is twice as high in women than in men 1.
- Individuals aged >65 years have a five-fold greater risk of SVT than younger people 1.
- Symptoms occur in the majority of patients, with palpitations being the most common, followed by other symptoms such as dizziness, shortness of breath, and chest discomfort 1.
Treatment and Prognosis
- Treatment options include vagal maneuvers, medications like adenosine, beta-blockers or calcium channel blockers for prevention, and catheter ablation 1.
- Prognosis is generally excellent, with the condition rarely being life-threatening, though quality of life can be significantly impacted without appropriate management 1.
Special Considerations
- In adults with congenital heart diseases (ACHD), SVT increased the risk of heart failure, stroke, and sudden cardiac death 1.
- Management of ACHD patients should be undertaken only in collaboration with a cardiologist who has specialized training or experience in managing such patients 1.
From the Research
Patient Statistics for New Diagnosis of Paroxysmal Nonsustained SVT
- The incidence of paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT) is estimated to be 168 to 332 per 100,000 individuals 2.
- Approximately 50% of patients with PSVT are aged 45 to 64 years, and 67.5% are female 2.
- The most common symptoms of PSVT include:
- Patients may rarely develop tachycardia-mediated cardiomyopathy (1%) due to PSVT 2.
- Diagnosis is typically made on electrocardiogram during an arrhythmic event or using ambulatory monitoring 2, 4.
Treatment and Management
- First-line acute therapy for hemodynamically stable patients includes vagal maneuvers such as the modified Valsalva maneuver (43% effective) and intravenous adenosine (91% effective) 2, 5.
- Emergent cardioversion is recommended for patients who are hemodynamically unstable 2, 4.
- Catheter ablation is safe, highly effective, and recommended as first-line therapy to prevent recurrence of PSVT, with single procedure success rates of 94.3% to 98.5% 2.
- Pharmacotherapy, including calcium channel blockers, β-blockers, and antiarrhythmic agents, is an important component of acute and long-term management of PSVT, although evidence is limited for its effectiveness in preventing PSVT 2, 4.