Effects of spironolactone on extrasystoles and heart rate variability in haemodialysis patients: a randomised crossover trial

  • Michael Eklund Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medical Sciences, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7706-1758
  • Olof Hellberg Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medical Sciences, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden
  • Hans Furuland Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9001-614X
  • Yang Cao Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Medical Sciences, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden; and Unit of Integrative Epidemiology, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3552-9153
  • Erik Nilsson Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; and School of Medical Sciences, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6968-6934
DOI: https://doi.org/10.48101/ujms.v126.5660
Keywords: haemodialysis, spironolactone, clinical trial, long-term ECG, arrhythmias, heart rate variability

Abstract

Background: Spironolactone treatment reduces mortality in haemodialysis (HD) patients. The objective of this study was to evaluate if spironolactone affects cardiac electric activity in this population.

Methods: Participants were randomised to start with spironolactone 50 mg daily or observation (12 weeks) with subsequent washout (6 weeks) and crossover to the other intervention (12 weeks). Long-term electrocardiograms were recorded and assessed with blinding to treatment. The primary outcome was premature ventricular complexes (PVC), and secondary outcomes were atrial premature contractions (APC) and heart rate variability (HRV).

Results: Thirty participants were recruited, and data for 16 participants were included in the analysis. Treatment was associated with an increase in PVCs by 9.7 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.5 to 18] h−1. HRV time-domain variables increased during treatment, the standard deviation of all beat-to-beat intervals by 18 (95% CI: 3.3 to 32) milliseconds (ms) and the standard deviation of the averages of beat-to-beat intervals in all 5-min segments of the entire recording by 16 (95% CI: 1.5 to 30) ms. There were no significant differences in other variables.

Conclusion: Spironolactone treatment increases PVCs in HD, indicating a possible proarrhythmic effect. However, improved cardiac autonomic function, as indicated by an increased HRV, may contribute to the survival benefit from spironolactone treatment in HD patients.

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Published
2021-01-25
How to Cite
Eklund M., Hellberg O., Furuland H., Cao Y., & Nilsson E. (2021). Effects of spironolactone on extrasystoles and heart rate variability in haemodialysis patients: a randomised crossover trial. Upsala Journal of Medical Sciences, 126(1). https://doi.org/10.48101/ujms.v126.5660
Issue
Vol. 126 (2021): Upsala J Med Sci
Section
Original Articles
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