Sinus bradycardia as a predictor of right coronary artery occlusion in patients with inferior myocardial infarction

Differentiation of right coronary artery (RCA) from left circumflex artery (LCxA) occlusion may be difficult since both can present an electrocardiographic pattern of inferior myocardial infarction (IMI). We studied 133 patients with IMI, 92 patients with RCA occlusion and 41 patients with LCxA occlusion. Risk factors such as previous MI, arterial hypertension, diabetes, smoking, and dislipemia, were similar for RCA and LCxA occlusions. Patients with RCA occlusion had a higher incidence of isolated IMI than patients with LCxA occlusion, 50% vs. 17%, respectively (P<0.001). Arterial hypotension was more prevalent (P<0.05) among patients with RCA (18%) rather than those with LCxA occlusion (2%). RCA occlusion presented an association with sinus bradycardia, an association not observed with LCxA occlusion (15% vs. 0%, respectively; P<0.01). Total atrioventricular block was only present among patients with RCA (18%). Proximal occlusions of the RCA presented lower heart rates (sinus bradycardia) than medial and distal occlusions (13% vs. 1% and 1%, respectively; P<0.0001 and P<0.001). Therefore, regarding patients with IMI: (1) sinus bradycardia is more frequent when the infarct-related artery is the RCA; (2) proximal occlusions of the right coronary predispose low heart rates; and (3) occlusion of the LCxA rarely induces sinus bradycardia.