Clinical Significance of Cardiac Arrhythmias Detected During Exercise

Disturbances of cardiac rhythm are commonly observed during exercise testing and may provide information of diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic importance (1–7). Data demonstrating an association between ventricular ectopy and increased risk of cardiac disease and sudden death have stimulated interest in the clinical significance of exercise-induced ventricular arrhythmias. This chapter will review the electrophysiologic response of the cardio-circulatory system to exercise and current knowledge of the significance of exercise-induced arrhythmias in the identification and prognosis of cardiac disease.