Although premature ventricular complex (PVC) occurs frequently, its predisposing factors have rarely been studied. We examined the connection between PVC and aortic stiffness.

We recruited 200 consecutive patients (<50 years, 95 men, mean age 36 ± 10 years) who received a 24-hour ambulatory electrocardiography examination for palpitation and PVC loads. Muscular artery pulse wave velocity (PWVm) and 4 main aortic pressure indices—augmented pressure, augmentation index (AI_x), AI_x corrected for a steady heart rate of 75 beat/min, and the extra workload—were measured, and atherosclerosis risk was evaluated.

Eighty-three (42%) patients had no PVC loads; 58 (29%) patients had low loads (<24 beat/d), and 59 (29%) had high loads (≥24 beat/d). Only age and hyperlipidemia were significantly associated with PVC loads. Using a multivariate logistic regression model adjusted for potential confounders, we found that AI_x (odds ratio [OR] 1.88, 95% CI 1.20-2.91, P = .005); augmented pressure (OR 1.57, 95% CI 1.02-2.43, P = .042); AI_x corrected for a steady heart rate of 75 beat/min (OR 1.82, 95% CI 1.18-2.82, P = .007); and PWVm (OR 1.53, 95% CI 1.07-2.19, P = .021) were independent factors for PVC loads.

Increased central aortic pressure indices as well as PWVm were associated with increased PVC loads in young patients undergoing 24-hour ambulatory electrocardiography. Central aortic properties probably contributed to the occurrence of PVC.