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QT interval dispersion and resting metabolic rate in chronic anorexia nervosa
Author(s) -
Krantz Mori J.,
Donahoo William T.,
Melanson Edward L.,
Mehler Philip S.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
international journal of eating disorders
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.785
H-Index - 138
eISSN - 1098-108X
pISSN - 0276-3478
DOI - 10.1002/eat.20082
Subject(s) - qt interval , anorexia nervosa , medicine , heart rate , cardiology , dispersion (optics) , electrocardiography , endocrinology , blood pressure , eating disorders , psychiatry , physics , optics
Abstract Objective During the starvation phase of anorexia nervosa (AN), cardiac and skeletal muscle mass decreases, whereas electrocardiographic QT dispersion, a marker of arrhythmia risk, increases. QT dispersion during the chronic phase of AN and its relationship to resting metabolic rate (RMR) have not been described previously and is the subject of the current investigation. Method Six AN patients were compared with 10 age‐matched control subjects. Serum electrolyte levels, electrocardiography, anthropomorphic data, and indirect calorimetry were obtained for all participants. Results Corrected QT interval (QTc) did not differ between groups, but QT dispersion was significantly greater in AN patients. QT dispersion correlated negatively with resting oxygen consumption and RMR. The relationship between QT dispersion and RMR did not persist after correcting for lean body mass. Conclusions AN patients with a low RMR may be at risk for increased QT dispersion. QT dispersion is a widely available and inexpensive measure, which may reflect both metabolic status and arrhythmia potential. © 2005 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.