Figure 2. Ventricular arrhythmia score per patient at the baseline exercise test and at the previous exercise test on the same standard therapy dose (panel A), and at the first and second exercise test on the final (stable) flecainide dose (panel B).
The number of patients in each ventricular arrhythmia category and change of ventricular arrhythmia category is shown. The line thickness indicates the number of patients, a dotted line represents one patient. The median time interval between the two tests is shown. The standard therapy exercise tests were on the same β-blocker +/− Ca2+ channel blocker doses. All exercise tests on flecainide were on the same, stable flecainide dose in combination with an unchanged or lower β-blocker dose. The sinus rate at maximal exercise at the first and second exercise test on flecainide was not significantly different (140±19 vs. 144±20; p=0.245). However, the two patients with a ventricular arrhythmia score of 4 and 3 at the second exercise test did reach a significantly higher maximum sinus rate as compared with the first exercise test (increase of 32 and 19 beats per minute, respectively).