FREQUENCY OF VENTRICULAR ARRHYTHMIAS AFTER ACUTE MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION AND ITS ASSOCIATION WITH HYPOKALEMIA

Background: Ventricular arrhythmias are among the most life-threatening complications following acute myocardial infarction (AMI), frequently contributing to early mortality. Hypokalemia, a common electrolyte disturbance during AMI, may further destabilize cardiac electrical activity and predispose to fatal dysrhythmias. Early recognition and correction of hypokalemia are therefore critical in minimizing arrhythmic events and improving patient outcomes. Objective: To determine the frequency of ventricular arrhythmias in patients presenting with acute myocardial infarction and to assess their association with hypokalemia. Methods: A cross-sectional comparative study was conducted in the Coronary Care and Intensive Care Units of Gulab Devi Teaching Hospital, Lahore. A total of 100 patients with confirmed AMI, irrespective of gender, were enrolled through purposive sampling. Demographic details, type of myocardial infarction, serum potassium levels, and predisposing factors were recorded using a structured proforma. Electrocardiograms were evaluated to identify ventricular tachycardia (VT), ventricular fibrillation (VF), and premature ventricular contractions (PVCs). Data were analyzed using SPSS version 26. Quantitative variables such as age, height, weight, and serum potassium were expressed as mean ± SD, while qualitative variables were presented as frequencies and percentages. The Chi-square test was applied to assess the association between hypokalemia and ventricular arrhythmias, considering p < 0.05 statistically significant. Results: Of the 100 AMI patients, 66 were male and 34 female, with a mean age of 57.82 ± 11.21 years. The mean potassium level was 4.13 ± 0.86 mmol/L. Hypokalemia (serum potassium < 3.4 mmol/L) was found in 13% of patients. Ventricular arrhythmias were observed in 20% of participants, including VT (9%), VF (6%), and PVCs (5%). A significant association was found between hypokalemia and ventricular arrhythmias (p = 0.000), while gender showed no significant relationship (p = 0.916). Current smoking also demonstrated a strong correlation (p = 0.002). Conclusion: The study concluded that hypokalemia was significantly associated with the development of ventricular arrhythmias in patients with acute myocardial infarction, underscoring the importance of routine electrolyte monitoring and timely correction to prevent life-threatening cardiac events.