Abstract of the day – Is long-term survival affected in patients with premature ventricular complexes but structurally normal hearts?
30 Aug 2025
Abstract of the Day Studies on the prognostic implications of premature ventricular complexes (PVCs) in patients without structural heart disease have shown conflicting results and little is known about the impact on long-term outcomes. Today, Doctor Robin Bouleau (South General Hospital - Stockholm, Sweden) describes the results of a 10-year follow-up analysis.
This observational cohort study included consecutive patients who received a PVC diagnosis at three major hospitals in Stockholm between 2010 and 2016. All patients had normal results on echocardiogram and stress test, with no history of structural heart disease. Expected survival was estimated for the age-, sex- and calendar year-matched Swedish population using the Human Mortality Database. Relative survival – a method to assess disease-specific survival without the need for cause-of-death information – was calculated using the Ederer II method.
A total of 790 patients with PVCs were included, with a median age of 59 years and 57% were women. Almost one-quarter (23%) had more than 10,000 PVCs per day and 11% had more than 20,000 PVCs per day. Median follow-up was 10 years (maximum 14 years).
Observed survival in patients with PVCs was greater than the expected survival in the matched population at 1 year (100% vs. 99%), 5 years (97% vs. 94%), 10 years (93% vs. 86%) and 12 years (91% vs. 82%), with relative survival of 100%, 104%, 109% and 112%, respectively. Relative survival did not differ based on PVC burden.
The authors conclude that long-term survival was excellent in PVC patients without structural heart disease, supporting the notion that many of these patients can be given a reassuring message on prognosis.
