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Class 3-Impairment of the Whole Person, 30—54% The patient has slight to moderate discomfort in the performance of greater than ordinary daily activities (functional class 2) despite dietary or drug therapy, and the patient has evidence from physical examination or laboratory studies of pericardial heart disease; and Physical signs are present, orthere is laboratory evidence of cardiac chamber enlargement, or there is evidence of significant pericardial thickening and calcifications; or
The patient has recovered from surgery to remove the pericardium but continues to have the symptoms, signs, and laboratory evidence described above.
Class 4-Impairment of the Whole Person, 55—95% The patient has symptoms on performance of ordinary daily activities (functional class 3 or 4) in spite of using appropriate dietary restrictions or drugs, and evidence from physical examination or laboratory studies of pericardial heart disease; and The patient has signs or laboratory evidence of congestion of the lungs or other organs; or The patient has recovered from surgery to remove the pencardium and continues to have symptoms, signs, and laboratory evidence described above.
ARRHYTHMIAS Arrhythmias tend to fluctuate remarkably in the frequency with which they occur. Thus, adequate documentation of the arrhythmia and estimation of the frequency with which it occurs must be made. The associated symptoms may be considerably different from the symptoms of other forms of heart disease. Arrhythmias may cause syncope, palpitation, dizziness, light headedness, chest heaviness, or shortness of breath or combinations of these symptoms.The degree of impairment from cardiac arrhythmias often will have to be combined with the degree of impairment due to an underlying heart disease; this combining should be done according to the Combined Values Chart. After instituting therapy for the arrhythmias, one should allow an appropriate amount of time to pass before estimating the extent of the permanent impairment.
Impairment Classification for Cardiac Arrhythmias
Class 1 Impairment of the Whole Person, 0—14% The patient is asymptomatic during ordinary activities and a cardiac arrhythmia is documented by ECG; and (Cont.)
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