Correlation between occurrence of new onset serious cardiac arrhythmias in first 48 hours of ICU admission and hospital outcome : A single centre prospective observational study

Study title : Correlation between occurrence of new onset serious cardiac arrythmias in first 48 hours of ICU admission and hospital outcome :A single centre prospective observational study.

Study site : 18 bedded mixed ICU of Fortis Escorts hospital, Faridabad

Type of study : Single centre prospective observational study

Data collection : Baseline vital characteristics, patient history, provisional diagnosis, routine investigations and 12 lead electrocardiography will be documented for all admitted patients. APACHE II score will be calculated on admission to ascertain severity of illness.Continous ECG monitoring with bedside monitors attached will be done for each patient.All the departmental nursing staff will be trained to identify arrythmias based on basic characteristics like heart rate and rhythm.To decrease margin of error all tachycardias (heart rate >100) and bradycardias (heart rate <60) will be reported. Patients will be chronic arrythmias will be considered if a new and different type of arrythmia is detected.

**Outcome measures :**All patients expected to stay in ICU for atleast 48 hours will be observed for incidence of serious cardiac arrythmias. Rate of mortality at hospital discharge will be compared between arrythmic vs non arrythmic patients. Secondary outcome measures will be ICU mortality, ICU and hospital length of stay.