Motivation: Ischemic heart disease is the eighth leading cause of death in an African population. Silent ischemia can be defined as an ischemic episode without associated pain. The clinical significance of silent ischemia is growing and can now be considered as a risk factor in the development of coronary disease. Hypertension and associated risk factors, hypercholesterolemia and diabetes are associated with silent ischemia. Other factors such as higher pulse pressure, double product, heart rate and higher carotid intima-media thickness are also associated with silent ischemia. Urbanisation is rising in South-Africa. This new lifestyle is associated with several risk factors including: poor diets, lower physical activity levels, hypertension and increased smoking and alcohol abuse. The prevalence of stroke is high among Africans, which can be due to a higher prevalence of hypertension, diabetes and obesity. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the associations between silent ischemia and cardiovascular function in African men. The focus fell on hypertension and associated risk factors, higher total cholesterol levels, and increased pulse pressure, heart rate and sub-clinical atherosclerosis. vi Methodology: This study constituted a population study in the North-West province carried out on urbanized African male teachers aged between 20-60 years. The SABPA (Sympathetic activity and Ambulatory Blood Pressure in Africans) sub-study consisted of a total of 80 African male volunteers. The Cardiotens apparatus was placed on each participant on the first morning. This apparatus took ambulatory blood pressure measurements as well as Electrocardiogram measurements. Hereafter, participants continued with their normal work day until 1700. After an overnight stay at the Metabolic unit of the North-West University Potchefstroom campus, the apparatus was removed at 0600. During statistical analyses, the African males were divided into groups of participants with silent ischemia (SI) and those without silent ischemia (nSI), as determined by the ambulatory electrocardiogram. Statistical analyses were performed by means of the Statistica version 10 software program. Results: In comparison with the nSI men, the SI showed the following: above normal high sensitivity C-reactive protein and glucose, higher ambulatory blood pressure, heart rate, pulse pressure, resting ST-segment depression and carotid intima-media thickness. Multiple regression analyses indicated that ambulatory silent ischemia is associated with sub-clinical atherosclerosis, possibly increasing their stroke risk. / Thesis (M.Sc. (Physiology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012.

Motivation: Ischemic heart disease is the eighth leading cause of death in an African population. Silent ischemia can be defined as an ischemic episode without associated pain. The clinical significance of silent ischemia is growing and can now be considered as a risk factor in the development of coronary disease. Hypertension and associated risk factors, hypercholesterolemia and diabetes are associated with silent ischemia. Other factors such as higher pulse pressure, double product, heart rate and higher carotid intima-media thickness are also associated with silent ischemia. Urbanisation is rising in South-Africa. This new lifestyle is associated with several risk factors including: poor diets, lower physical activity levels, hypertension and increased smoking and alcohol abuse. The prevalence of stroke is high among Africans, which can be due to a higher prevalence of hypertension, diabetes and obesity. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the associations between silent ischemia and cardiovascular function in African men. The focus fell on hypertension and associated risk factors, higher total cholesterol levels, and increased pulse pressure, heart rate and sub-clinical atherosclerosis. vi Methodology: This study constituted a population study in the North-West province carried out on urbanized African male teachers aged between 20-60 years. The SABPA (Sympathetic activity and Ambulatory Blood Pressure in Africans) sub-study consisted of a total of 80 African male volunteers. The Cardiotens apparatus was placed on each participant on the first morning. This apparatus took ambulatory blood pressure measurements as well as Electrocardiogram measurements. Hereafter, participants continued with their normal work day until 1700. After an overnight stay at the Metabolic unit of the North-West University Potchefstroom campus, the apparatus was removed at 0600. During statistical analyses, the African males were divided into groups of participants with silent ischemia (SI) and those without silent ischemia (nSI), as determined by the ambulatory electrocardiogram. Statistical analyses were performed by means of the Statistica version 10 software program. Results: In comparison with the nSI men, the SI showed the following: above normal high sensitivity C-reactive protein and glucose, higher ambulatory blood pressure, heart rate, pulse pressure, resting ST-segment depression and carotid intima-media thickness. Multiple regression analyses indicated that ambulatory silent ischemia is associated with sub-clinical atherosclerosis, possibly increasing their stroke risk. / Thesis (M.Sc. (Physiology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2012.

pós-infarto agudo do miocárdio (IAM) têm mostrado baixo valor preditivo positivo quando estudados isoladamente. A possibilidade da Eletrocardiografia Dinâmica de 24 horas (ECGD) fornecer dados referentes a isquemia silenciosa (IS), arritmias ventriculares e modulação autonômica do coração pelo estudo da variabilidade da freqüência cardíaca (VFC), levou o autor a empregar este método em pacientes acometidos de IAM com o objetivo de avaliar se estas três variáveis estariam relacionadas a presença de eventos desfavoráveis em evolução a médio prazo. Material e Métodos – Foram selecionados 91 pacientes acometidos de um primeiro IAM não-complicado e realizados exames de ECGD de 24 h por dois dias consecutivos, antes da alta hospitalar. Os parâmetros pesquisados nos exames foram: isquemia silenciosa, identificação e quantificação de arritmias ventriculares e determinação dos índices de VFC pelos métodos do domínio do tempo e do mapa de retorno tridimensional. Foram considerados como desfechos: re-infarto, angina instável, taquicardia ventricular sustentada e morte. Resultados – No seguimento médio de 27,7 meses (DP=15,45), 23 (25%) dos pacientes apresentaram eventos, sendo nove fatais. Os eventos foram mais freqüentes entre os pacientes que apresentaram extra-sístoles ventriculares ≥10/hora (p=0,01) e também naqueles com IS (p=0,02). Em modelo de análise multifatorial, a presença de dislipidemia elevou o valor preditivo positivo dessas variáveis. Nenhum dos índices de VFC esteve significativamente relacionado ao surgimento de eventos. Conclusões – Em pacientes pós-IAM de baixo risco, a presença de arritmias ventriculares freqüentes ou de isquemia silenciosa está relacionada a um prognóstico desfavorável. O estudo da VFC não mostrou utilidade na estratificação de risco destes pacientes. / Introduction and objective – The noninvasive methods used in post-acute myocardial infarction (AMI) risk stratification have been shown to have a low predictive value when studied in isolation. The possibility that ambulatory electrocardiographic monitoring (AEM) may provide data on silent ischemia (SI), ventricular arrhythmias (VA) and autonomic modulation of the heart through the study of heart rate variability (HRV) led the present author to use this method in AMI patients with the aim of assessing whether these three variables could be related to the presence of unfavorable events in the medium term follow-up. Methods – Ninety-one patients with a first, uncomplicated AMI were selected and submitted to AEM for two consecutive days prior to discharge from the hospital. The parameters studied in the examination were as follows: presence of SI, identification and quantification of VA and determination of the HRV indices by the time domain and three-dimensional return map methods. The following were regarded as outcomes: new AMI, unstable angina, sustained ventricular tachycardia and death. Results – In the mean follow-up of 27.7 months (SD=15.45), 23 (25%) of the patients presented events, nine of which were fatal. Events occurred most frequently in the patients who presented ventricular premature contractions >= (p=0.01) and also in those with SI (p=0.04). In the multifactorial analysis the presence of dislipidemia raised the positive predictive value of these variables. None of the HRV indices was significantly correlated with the occurrence of events. Conclusions – In low-risk post-AMI patients the presence of frequent ventricular arrhythmias or silent ischemia is associated with an unfavorable prognosis. The study of HRV was not shown to be useful in the risk stratification of these patients.

pós-infarto agudo do miocárdio (IAM) têm mostrado baixo valor preditivo positivo quando estudados isoladamente. A possibilidade da Eletrocardiografia Dinâmica de 24 horas (ECGD) fornecer dados referentes a isquemia silenciosa (IS), arritmias ventriculares e modulação autonômica do coração pelo estudo da variabilidade da freqüência cardíaca (VFC), levou o autor a empregar este método em pacientes acometidos de IAM com o objetivo de avaliar se estas três variáveis estariam relacionadas a presença de eventos desfavoráveis em evolução a médio prazo. Material e Métodos – Foram selecionados 91 pacientes acometidos de um primeiro IAM não-complicado e realizados exames de ECGD de 24 h por dois dias consecutivos, antes da alta hospitalar. Os parâmetros pesquisados nos exames foram: isquemia silenciosa, identificação e quantificação de arritmias ventriculares e determinação dos índices de VFC pelos métodos do domínio do tempo e do mapa de retorno tridimensional. Foram considerados como desfechos: re-infarto, angina instável, taquicardia ventricular sustentada e morte. Resultados – No seguimento médio de 27,7 meses (DP=15,45), 23 (25%) dos pacientes apresentaram eventos, sendo nove fatais. Os eventos foram mais freqüentes entre os pacientes que apresentaram extra-sístoles ventriculares ≥10/hora (p=0,01) e também naqueles com IS (p=0,02). Em modelo de análise multifatorial, a presença de dislipidemia elevou o valor preditivo positivo dessas variáveis. Nenhum dos índices de VFC esteve significativamente relacionado ao surgimento de eventos. Conclusões – Em pacientes pós-IAM de baixo risco, a presença de arritmias ventriculares freqüentes ou de isquemia silenciosa está relacionada a um prognóstico desfavorável. O estudo da VFC não mostrou utilidade na estratificação de risco destes pacientes. / Introduction and objective – The noninvasive methods used in post-acute myocardial infarction (AMI) risk stratification have been shown to have a low predictive value when studied in isolation. The possibility that ambulatory electrocardiographic monitoring (AEM) may provide data on silent ischemia (SI), ventricular arrhythmias (VA) and autonomic modulation of the heart through the study of heart rate variability (HRV) led the present author to use this method in AMI patients with the aim of assessing whether these three variables could be related to the presence of unfavorable events in the medium term follow-up. Methods – Ninety-one patients with a first, uncomplicated AMI were selected and submitted to AEM for two consecutive days prior to discharge from the hospital. The parameters studied in the examination were as follows: presence of SI, identification and quantification of VA and determination of the HRV indices by the time domain and three-dimensional return map methods. The following were regarded as outcomes: new AMI, unstable angina, sustained ventricular tachycardia and death. Results – In the mean follow-up of 27.7 months (SD=15.45), 23 (25%) of the patients presented events, nine of which were fatal. Events occurred most frequently in the patients who presented ventricular premature contractions >= (p=0.01) and also in those with SI (p=0.04). In the multifactorial analysis the presence of dislipidemia raised the positive predictive value of these variables. None of the HRV indices was significantly correlated with the occurrence of events. Conclusions – In low-risk post-AMI patients the presence of frequent ventricular arrhythmias or silent ischemia is associated with an unfavorable prognosis. The study of HRV was not shown to be useful in the risk stratification of these patients.

pós-infarto agudo do miocárdio (IAM) têm mostrado baixo valor preditivo positivo quando estudados isoladamente. A possibilidade da Eletrocardiografia Dinâmica de 24 horas (ECGD) fornecer dados referentes a isquemia silenciosa (IS), arritmias ventriculares e modulação autonômica do coração pelo estudo da variabilidade da freqüência cardíaca (VFC), levou o autor a empregar este método em pacientes acometidos de IAM com o objetivo de avaliar se estas três variáveis estariam relacionadas a presença de eventos desfavoráveis em evolução a médio prazo. Material e Métodos – Foram selecionados 91 pacientes acometidos de um primeiro IAM não-complicado e realizados exames de ECGD de 24 h por dois dias consecutivos, antes da alta hospitalar. Os parâmetros pesquisados nos exames foram: isquemia silenciosa, identificação e quantificação de arritmias ventriculares e determinação dos índices de VFC pelos métodos do domínio do tempo e do mapa de retorno tridimensional. Foram considerados como desfechos: re-infarto, angina instável, taquicardia ventricular sustentada e morte. Resultados – No seguimento médio de 27,7 meses (DP=15,45), 23 (25%) dos pacientes apresentaram eventos, sendo nove fatais. Os eventos foram mais freqüentes entre os pacientes que apresentaram extra-sístoles ventriculares ≥10/hora (p=0,01) e também naqueles com IS (p=0,02). Em modelo de análise multifatorial, a presença de dislipidemia elevou o valor preditivo positivo dessas variáveis. Nenhum dos índices de VFC esteve significativamente relacionado ao surgimento de eventos. Conclusões – Em pacientes pós-IAM de baixo risco, a presença de arritmias ventriculares freqüentes ou de isquemia silenciosa está relacionada a um prognóstico desfavorável. O estudo da VFC não mostrou utilidade na estratificação de risco destes pacientes. / Introduction and objective – The noninvasive methods used in post-acute myocardial infarction (AMI) risk stratification have been shown to have a low predictive value when studied in isolation. The possibility that ambulatory electrocardiographic monitoring (AEM) may provide data on silent ischemia (SI), ventricular arrhythmias (VA) and autonomic modulation of the heart through the study of heart rate variability (HRV) led the present author to use this method in AMI patients with the aim of assessing whether these three variables could be related to the presence of unfavorable events in the medium term follow-up. Methods – Ninety-one patients with a first, uncomplicated AMI were selected and submitted to AEM for two consecutive days prior to discharge from the hospital. The parameters studied in the examination were as follows: presence of SI, identification and quantification of VA and determination of the HRV indices by the time domain and three-dimensional return map methods. The following were regarded as outcomes: new AMI, unstable angina, sustained ventricular tachycardia and death. Results – In the mean follow-up of 27.7 months (SD=15.45), 23 (25%) of the patients presented events, nine of which were fatal. Events occurred most frequently in the patients who presented ventricular premature contractions >= (p=0.01) and also in those with SI (p=0.04). In the multifactorial analysis the presence of dislipidemia raised the positive predictive value of these variables. None of the HRV indices was significantly correlated with the occurrence of events. Conclusions – In low-risk post-AMI patients the presence of frequent ventricular arrhythmias or silent ischemia is associated with an unfavorable prognosis. The study of HRV was not shown to be useful in the risk stratification of these patients.