The assessment and management of palpitations in primary care
InnovAiT, 07/25/2011
Taggar JS et al. – This article highlights the factors involved in making an assessment and stratifying risk in patients presenting with palpitations in a primary care setting.
- Palpitations, the abnormal perception of a heart beating, are a common cause for presentation to a GP and have a prevalence of up to 16% in primary care consultations.
- They are associated with long–term morbidity with a substantial proportion of patients reporting concern and anxiety despite the exclusion of a significant underlying cause.
- Palpitations are the second most common reason for a GP to refer to specialist cardiology.
- The challenge for GPs is to be able to differentiate palpitations of a benign aetiology, from those related to a significant underlying arrhythmia that requires prompt investigation and referral.
