Abstract

Non-sustained ventricular tachycardia (NSVT) is a serious ventricular arrhythmia associated with increased risk of sudden cardiac death. Early recognition of NSVT risk in patients with frequent premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) is important for effective risk evaluation and treatment planning. The Naples Prognostic Score (NPS) is a combined marker used to assess systemic inflammation and nutritional status. This study aimed to explore the relationship between the NPS and the occurrence of NSVT in patients with a high burden of PVCs. In this retrospective, single-center study, patients with ≥500 PVCs on 24-hour ambulatory ECG Holter monitoring were included. NPS was calculated using four specific laboratory markers: total cholesterol, serum albumin, the lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR) and the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR). Patients were grouped as low (0 points), moderate (1–2), or high (3–4) based on NPS. NSVT prevalence was compared among the different NPS categories. In total, 250 patients were evaluated for analysis. There was a significant increase in the prevalence of NSVT across the NPS categories: 8.1% in the low group, 14.3% in the moderate group, and 24.4% in the high group (p=0.038). Multivariable analysis showed that both NPS and prior myocardial infarction were independently associated with NSVT. The results indicate that NPS could be a practical, accessible, and low-cost tool for detecting NSVT risk in patients with frequent PVCs.

Key words: Premature ventricular contractions, non-sustained ventricular tachycardia, Naples prognostic score, inflammation, nutritional status, risk stratification