Open AccessAssociation of premature ventricular complexes and risk of ischemic stroke: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Author(s) -
Rujirachun Pongprueth,
Wattanachayakul Phuuwadith,
Phichitnitikorn Prawut,
Charoenngam Nipith,
Kewcharoen Jakrin,
Winijkul Arjbordin
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
clinical cardiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.263
H-Index - 72
eISSN - 1932-8737
pISSN - 0160-9289
DOI - 10.1002/clc.23531
Subject(s) - medicine , meta analysis , stroke (engine) , confidence interval , observational study , relative risk , cohort study , ischemic stroke , medline , cardiology , prospective cohort study , systematic review , study heterogeneity , publication bias , ischemia , mechanical engineering , political science , law , engineering
Abstract Recent studies have suggested that patients with premature ventricular complexes (PVCs) may have a higher risk of ischemic stroke. However, the data are limited and inconclusive. We conducted a systematic review and meta‐analysis to investigate the association between PVCs and the risk of ischemic stroke. A comprehensive literature review was conducted by searching for published articles indexed in MEDLINE and EMBASE databases from inception through September 25, 2020, to identify studies that compared the risk of ischemic stroke between patients with PVCs and individuals without PVCs. Pooled risk ratio (RR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated using a random‐effect, generic inverse variance method of Dersimonian and Laird. A total of four observational studies (2 prospective and 2 retrospective cohort studies) with 42 677 participants met the eligibility criteria and were included in the meta‐analysis. We found that patients with PVCs have a significantly higher risk of ischemic stroke than individuals without PVCs with the pooled RR of 1.31 (95% CI, 1.07–1.60, I 2 = 43%). From our systematic review and meta‐analysis, we found that PVCs are associated with a higher risk of ischemic stroke. Whether this association is causal and how it should be addressed in clinical practice require further investigations.