Turkish Journal of
GERIATRICS

Eskişehir Osmangazi Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Kardiyoloji Anabilim Dalı, ESKİŞEHİR Ventricular arrhythmias are seen more in the elderly than in the young, and ranging from asymptomatic ventricular premature beats to ventricular fibrillation, which can lead to sudden cardiac death. In patients who had underlying structural heart disease, present of ventricular arrhythmias are associated with an increased risk of sudden cardiac death. Ventricular premature beats and non-sustained ventricular tachycardia produce few or no symptoms in the vast majority of patients. Pharmacological treatment of asymptomatic and mild symptomatic patients is not required. In patients with significant or disabling symptoms, beta-blockers are usually adequate in patients with premature beats and non-sustained ventricular tachycardia. Therapy for sustained ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation involves acute termination and long-term treatment to prevent sudden cardiac death. The majority of sudden cardiac deaths are seen in elderly population, and the main reason of sudden cardiac deaths is ventricular tachyarrhythmia. Patients with ventricular arrhythmia should be treated aggressively for structural heart disease if they have. In addition, patients with an increased risk of sudden cardiac death should be treated with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator. Keywords : Elderly; Arrhythmia; Death; Sudden