The Relationship between Poor Pulmonary Function and Irregular Pulse in the Elderly: Findings from a Nationwide Cross-Sectional Survey in Korea

Arrhythmia may be caused by reduced pulmonary function, and pulse palpation is a useful screening method for the early detection of cardiac arrhythmia. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between reduced pulmonary function and abnormal findings on pulse palpation in 2347 subjects aged ≥65 years using data from a nationwide survey. Pulse palpation was initially performed for 15 s and, if felt to be abnormal, it was performed again for 60 s. The prevalence of irregular pulse (IP) determined by the 60-second palpation was 61 (2.6%). The mean age of subjects with an IP was 73.0 (95% CI 71.7–74.3) years, and 45.8% were male. After adjustment for covariates, forced vital capacity (FVC)/predicted FVC, forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV(1))/predicted FEV(1), and the lowest FEV(1) remained significant risk factors for IP. A restrictive or obstructive spirometry pattern was also an independent risk factor for IP. In summary, an IP is more prevalent when pulmonary function is reduced in the elderly, in whom careful pulse palpation may be necessary for the early detection of arrhythmia.