Review: Rapid assessment of patients with palpitations

Background
Palpitations are one of the most prevalent general practice presentations and a concerning aetiology for cardiac causes. Since many physiological and pathological causes induce palpitations, doctors tend to conduct long-term, expensive evaluations, laboratory tests and specialised examinations. In addition to increasing medical expenses, more evaluations can lead to distress for patients and their families. While palpitations tend to be benign, on the other hand, they may sometimes have life-threatening implications.

Objectives
To summarise the current study on rapid assessment of patients with palpitations; therefore, patients will receive adequate management and treatment effectively.

Material and methods
A comprehensive electronic search was conducted using PubMed, Google Scholar, SAGE and ScienceDirect. The following search keywords were used: palpitation, assessments, ECG, emergency and diagnostic testing. The search was limited to English-language publications from 1990 to 2021. Manual searching of relevant journals and reference lists was also performed.

Results
Palpitations are a common clinical sign caused by various factors. Palpitations are a frequent clinical symptom with a wide range of causes. A systematic rapid assessment can initially identify palpitations.

Conclusions
If the patient is examined during palpitations, the earliest echocardiogram (ECG) record is important in the diagnostic approach while waiting for further workup. A detailed history taking is then necessary to narrow the cause of palpitations. A comprehensive history helps determine which testing and monitoring will be needed.