Evaluation of Patients with Palpitation

Abstract

Background: palpitation is an awareness of the heart beat.  The pattern of palpitations especially when correlated to the pulse may help narrow the differential Diagnosis: rapid, regular palpitations are noted with supraventricular tachycardia or ventricular tachycardia; rapid, irregular palpitations are noted with a trial fibrillation; and “skipped beats” are noted with premature atria or ventricular contractions.

Objective : the aim of this study to determine the causes of palpitation in 200 patients seeking medical advice in baquba teaching hospital –out patient consultation clinic.

Patient and Methods: 200patients presented with palpitation at baquba teaching hospital – out patient consultation clinic were considered for this study 85 male(42.5) and 115female(57.5), full history taking, physical examination with simple available investigation and psychiatric screening done for them.

Results:  A cause of palpitation was determined in 85% of patients. The causes was cardiac in 40%, psychiatric causes in30%, miscellaneous in 15% and unknown causes in 15%.