Definition and research guide
This page combines a MeSH definition, publication statistics and selected research abstracts. It is a starting point for reading the literature, not a medical textbook or a systematic evidence review.
Content available: 4 complete abstracts (944 words), 10 references. Full article text is not stored or reproduced here; follow the PMID, DOI or PMC links to read the original sources and their access terms.
Definition
Abnormally rapid heartbeat, usually with a heart rate above 100 beats per minute for adults. Tachycardia accompanied by disturbance in the cardiac depolarization (cardiac arrhythmia) is called tachyarrhythmia.
Definition: NLM Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) scope note (Public domain (U.S. National Library of Medicine); attribution requested). View the MeSH record.
Also known as: Tachycardias; Tachyarrhythmia; Tachyarrhythmias.
Where it fits in the MeSH classification
- Broader topics
- Arrhythmias, Cardiac; Cardiac Conduction System Disease
- Narrower topics
- Tachycardia, Paroxysmal; Tachycardia, Reciprocating; Tachycardia, Supraventricular; Tachycardia, Ventricular
Related concepts
Research landscape
PubMed indexes 54,431 records tagged with the MeSH heading “Tachycardia” (counts retrieved 2026-10-29). 6,359 of them (11.7%) were published from 2020 onward, and the busiest period so far is through 1999 with 25,045 records.
Reviews account for 5,883 records (10.8%) and meta-analyses for 264. Randomized controlled trials number 1,384 (2.5%) as a share of all records on the topic.
Show the data
| Period | Records |
|---|---|
| through 1999 | 25,045 |
| 2000-2009 | 10,925 |
| 2010-2019 | 12,102 |
| 2020 onward | 6,359 |
Publication-type chart data
| Type | Records | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Reviews | 5,883 | 10.8% |
| Meta-analyses | 264 | 0.5% |
| Randomized controlled trials | 1,384 | 2.5% |
Method: PubMed query "Tachycardia"[MeSH Terms] with publication-type and date filters, retrieved 2026-10-29.
Reading the evidence in cardiovascular medicine
Cardiovascular medicine has an unusually large body of randomized trials, so the type of outcome matters: hard clinical events such as death, heart attack and stroke carry more weight than changes in blood pressure, cholesterol or imaging markers that only predict risk. Observational studies can show associations but are confounded by age, lifestyle and other illness. Check whether a result is about prevention or treatment, the baseline risk of participants, and the absolute rather than only the relative size of any benefit.
Evidence from open-access studies
These open-access studies come from PubMed’s best-match results for this heading (papers whose main topic it is), ranked here by citation count, with one recent addition. Each abstract is reproduced in full under its recorded open licence so that you can read the authors’ own words. They illustrate the literature; they are not a systematic summary of it. Citation counts measure attention, not reliability or clinical benefit.
Repeat procedures after pulsed field ablation for atrial fibrillation: MANIFEST-REDO study [1]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- AimsInitial clinical studies of pulsed field ablation (PFA) to treat atrial fibrillation (AF) indicated a >90% durability rate of pulmonary vein isolation (PVI).
- Closing excerpt
- Repeat procedures can be performed safely and with an acceptable subsequent success rate.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (302 words)
AimsInitial clinical studies of pulsed field ablation (PFA) to treat atrial fibrillation (AF) indicated a >90% durability rate of pulmonary vein isolation (PVI). However, these studies were largely conducted in single centres and involved a limited number of operators. We aimed to describe the electrophysiological findings and outcomes in patients undergoing repeat ablation after an initial PF ablation for AF.Methods and resultsIn the MANIFEST-REDO study, we investigated patients who underwent repeat ablation due to clinical recurrence-AF or atrial tachycardia (AT)-following first-ever PVI with a pentaspline PFA catheter (Farawave, Boston Scientific Inc.). At 22 centres, 427 patients (age 64 ± 11 years; 37% female) were included. Of note, the recurrent arrhythmia leading to the repeat ablation was paroxysmal AF (51%), persistent AF (30%), or AT (19%). At the repeat procedure, the PV reconnection rates were 30% (left superior pulmonary vein), 28% (left inferior pulmonary vein), 33% (right superior pulmonary vein), and 32% (right inferior pulmonary vein). In 45% of patients, all PVs were durably isolated at the beginning of the repeat procedure, with the previous use of any imaging or mapping modality being univariately associated with durable PVI. After a post-redo follow-up period of 284 (90-366) days, the primary effectiveness endpoint (freedom from documented AF/AT lasting ≥30 s after 3-month blanking without class I/III antiarrhythmic drugs or symptoms) was achieved in 65% of patients, with significant differences between groups (PAF 65% vs. PersAF 56% vs. AT 76%; P = 0.04). Persistent AF as recurrent arrhythmia after the initial PFA ablation predicted AT/AF recurrence after repeat ablation [hazard ratio 1.241 (95% confidence interval 1.534-1.005); P = 0.045]. The procedural complication rate was 2.8%.ConclusionIn repeat procedures for AF/AT performed after an index procedure with PFA for AF, PV reconnections are not uncommon. Repeat procedures can be performed safely and with an acceptable subsequent success rate.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 39824172 · DOI · PMC12344414
Safety and efficacy of a lattice-tip catheter for ventricular arrhythmia ablation: the AFFERA Ventricular Arrhythmia Ablation Registry (AVAAR) [2]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- AimsThe feasibility and safety of the lattice-tip catheter for ventricular arrhythmia (VA) ablation in humans remain largely unknown.
- Closing excerpt
- In the absence of large, randomized trials, exhaustive registry is of key importance to ensure safety and efficacy of new catheter technologies.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (263 words)
AimsThe feasibility and safety of the lattice-tip catheter for ventricular arrhythmia (VA) ablation in humans remain largely unknown. This study aimed to assess feasibility, safety profile as well as patient outcomes after VA ablation with a lattice-tip catheter in a multicentre European registry.Methods and resultsAll 18 European centres using the AFFERA system in September 2024 agreed to participate. Clinical, procedural, and follow-up data (minimum 3 months) were systematically collected and analysed. A total of 126 patients (18% female; mean age 59 ± 16 years) underwent VA ablation using the lattice-tip catheter during the inclusion period. Ablation indications included ventricular tachycardia (VT) in 99, premature ventricular complexes (PVCs) in 23, and ventricular fibrillation (VF) in 4 patients. Major and minor acute complications were observed in 7 (6%) and 18 (14%) procedures, respectively. They included thrombo-embolic event (n = 2), major bleeding (n = 2), ventricular fibrillation induction (n = 1), tamponade due to epicardial access (n = 1), and cardiogenic shock due to prolonged VT mapping (n = 1). Within the first month post-procedure, three patients died [from multi-organ failure (n = 2) and sepsis (n = 1)], two had worsening heart failure, one myocardial infarction, one sepsis, and one major gastro-intestinal bleeding. After a mean follow-up of 5.6 ± 3.7 months, absence of recurrence was 78% for PVC, 70% for VT, and 100% for VF.ConclusionIn this complex population with refractory VA, ablation using the lattice-tip catheter appears feasible and relatively safe. In the absence of large, randomized trials, exhaustive registry is of key importance to ensure safety and efficacy of new catheter technologies.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 40601816 · DOI · PMC12418093
Stereotactic cardiac radiotherapy for refractory ventricular tachycardia in structural heart disease patients: a systematic review [3]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- AimsAmong patients with structural heart disease with ventricular tachycardia (VT) refractory to medical therapy and catheter ablation, cardiac stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) is a paradigm-changing treatment option.
- Closing excerpt
- The overall mortality in this population with heart failure and refractory VT receiving palliative cardiac SBRT remains high.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (187 words)
AimsAmong patients with structural heart disease with ventricular tachycardia (VT) refractory to medical therapy and catheter ablation, cardiac stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) is a paradigm-changing treatment option. This study aims to assess the efficacy of cardiac SBRT in refractory VT by comparing the rates of VT episodes, anti-tachycardia pacing (ATP) therapies, and implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) shocks post-SBRT with pre-SBRT.Methods and resultsWe performed a comprehensive literature search and included all clinical studies reporting outcomes on cardiac SBRT for VT. Treatment efficacy was evaluated as random-effects pooled rate-ratios of VT episodes, ATP therapies and ICD shocks post-SBRT (after 6-week blanking) and pre-SBRT, with patients serving as their own controls. Post-SBRT overall survival was assessed using Kaplan-Meier method. We included 23 studies published 2017-24 reporting on 225 patients who received cardiac SBRT, with median follow-up 5.8-28 months. There was significant heterogeneity among the studies for all three efficacy endpoints (P ConclusionAmong patients with refractory VT in context of structural heart disease, VT burden and ICD shocks are dramatically reduced following cardiac SBRT. The overall mortality in this population with heart failure and refractory VT receiving palliative cardiac SBRT remains high.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 39716963 · DOI · PMC11780863
The timing and relationship of ventricular arrhythmia with exercise patterns in veteran male endurance athletes [4]
Abstract reading summary — source excerpts
- Opening excerpt
- AimsThe aim of this study was to determine whether exercise training patterns were associated with the incidence and timing of ventricular arrhythmia in veteran male endurance athletes.
- Closing excerpt
- Our findings therefore highlight myocardial fibrosis as a potential pro-arrhythmic substrate upon which intense exercise may trigger arrhythmogenesis in certain male veteran athletes.
- Interpretation limits
- Verbatim excerpts from the authors’ abstract; the closing excerpt may describe a finding, limitation or recommendation. Design, population, effect size and uncertainty have not been independently extracted or appraised. Read the complete abstract and linked paper before interpreting the findings.
Read complete abstract (192 words)
AimsThe aim of this study was to determine whether exercise training patterns were associated with the incidence and timing of ventricular arrhythmia in veteran male endurance athletes.Methods and resultsOne-hundred and six healthy male endurance athletes (cyclists/triathletes) aged ≥50 y undertaking ≥10 h/week of exercise for ≥15 y underwent clinical assessment, cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR), and implantable loop recorder (ILR) implantation. Daily exercise was tracked with computerized exercise tracking devices. Athletes were followed up for ventricular arrhythmia on ILR, ventricular tachycardia (VT), and non-sustained VT (NSVT). Fifty-five ventricular arrhythmia events occurred (median follow-up 796 days): 3 (5.5%) VT and 52 (94.5%) NSVT in 25 (23.5%) athletes. Myocardial fibrosis was significantly more prevalent in athletes with ventricular arrhythmia than those without ventricular arrhythmia [19 (76.0%) vs. 31 (38.3%), P ConclusionA significant proportion of highly trained male veteran athletes developed ventricular arrhythmia which was predominantly NSVT and was strongly associated with myocardial fibrosis. Acute exercise exposure was associated with an increased risk of developing ventricular arrhythmia, but chronic exercise load was not. Our findings therefore highlight myocardial fibrosis as a potential pro-arrhythmic substrate upon which intense exercise may trigger arrhythmogenesis in certain male veteran athletes.
Abstract reproduced from the open-access article under the recorded cc by licence; © the authors. PMID 41520681 · DOI · PMC13229576
Key reviews and meta-analyses
The most cited review-type papers among PubMed’s best-match results for this heading, listed with bibliographic details only. Follow the links for the full text and access terms.
- Research article Meta-analysis of ablation of atrial flutter and supraventricular tachycardia [5]
- Research article Comparative effectiveness of antiarrhythmic drugs and catheter ablation for the prevention of recurrent ventricular tachycardia in patients with implantable cardioverter-defibrillators: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials [6]
- Research article Cryoablation versus RF ablation for AVNRT: A meta-analysis and systematic review [7]
- Research article Effect of Ultrashort-Acting β-Blockers on Mortality in Patients With Sepsis With Persistent Tachycardia Despite Initial Resuscitation: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials [8]
- Research article Management of patients with an electrical storm or clustered ventricular arrhythmias: a clinical consensus statement of the European Heart Rhythm Association of the ESC-endorsed by the Asia-Pacific Heart Rhythm Society, Heart Rhythm Society, and Latin-American Heart Rhythm Society [9]
- Research article Sex differences in heart: from basics to clinics [10]
References
- Scherr D, Turagam MK, Maury P, Blaauw Y, van der Voort P, Neuzil P, et al.. Repeat procedures after pulsed field ablation for atrial fibrillation: MANIFEST-REDO study. . 2025. PMID 39824172 · DOI · PMC12344414
- Sacher F, Sarkozy A, Pürerfellner H, Steyer A, Lyne J, Coquard C, et al.. Safety and efficacy of a lattice-tip catheter for ventricular arrhythmia ablation: the AFFERA Ventricular Arrhythmia Ablation Registry (AVAAR). . 2025. PMID 40601816 · DOI · PMC12418093
- Gupta A, Sattar Z, Chaaban N, Ranka S, Carlson C, Sami F, et al.. Stereotactic cardiac radiotherapy for refractory ventricular tachycardia in structural heart disease patients: a systematic review. . 2024. PMID 39716963 · DOI · PMC11780863
- Javed W, Brown B, Chambers B, Levelt E, Graham L, Greenwood JP, et al.. The timing and relationship of ventricular arrhythmia with exercise patterns in veteran male endurance athletes. . 2026. PMID 41520681 · DOI · PMC13229576
- Spector P, Reynolds MR, Calkins H, Sondhi M, Xu Y, Martin A, et al.. Meta-analysis of ablation of atrial flutter and supraventricular tachycardia. Am J Cardiol. 2009. PMID 19699343 · DOI
- Santangeli P, Muser D, Maeda S, Filtz A, Zado ES, Frankel DS, et al.. Comparative effectiveness of antiarrhythmic drugs and catheter ablation for the prevention of recurrent ventricular tachycardia in patients with implantable cardioverter-defibrillators: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Heart Rhythm. 2016. PMID 26961297 · DOI
- Hanninen M, Yeung-Lai-Wah N, Massel D, Gula LJ, Skanes AC, Yee R, et al.. Cryoablation versus RF ablation for AVNRT: A meta-analysis and systematic review. J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol. 2013. PMID 24016223 · DOI
- Hasegawa D, Sato R, Prasitlumkum N, Nishida K, Takahashi K, Yatabe T, et al.. Effect of Ultrashort-Acting β-Blockers on Mortality in Patients With Sepsis With Persistent Tachycardia Despite Initial Resuscitation: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. Chest. 2021. PMID 33434497 · DOI
- Lenarczyk R, Zeppenfeld K, Zeppenfeld K, Tfelt-Hansen J, Heinzel FR, Deneke T, et al.. Management of patients with an electrical storm or clustered ventricular arrhythmias: a clinical consensus statement of the European Heart Rhythm Association of the ESC-endorsed by the Asia-Pacific Heart Rhythm Society, Heart Rhythm Society, and Latin-American Heart Rhythm Society. Europace. 2024. PMID 38584423 · DOI · PMC10999775
- Prajapati C, Koivumäki J, Pekkanen-Mattila M, Aalto-Setälä K. Sex differences in heart: from basics to clinics. Eur J Med Res. 2022. PMID 36352432 · DOI · PMC9647968
About this article
- Sources
- NLM Medical Subject Headings (definition, synonyms); NCBI PubMed (counts, identifiers); Europe PMC (open-access abstracts and citation counts).
- Verification
- Every reference was resolved against PubMed on 2026-10-31; title, year and DOI matched.
- Review state
- automated source verified; no human expert review has been recorded yet.
- Version
- 1, last updated 2026-10-29.
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Evidence strength
EvidenceHelix's computed view of the study designs behind this topic: how common meta-analyses, randomized trials and reviews are, how recent the literature is, and a plain-language reading. It describes the design mix of the literature. It is not a quality appraisal of any study, and it is not medical advice.