Open AccessImpact of Iron and Homocysteine Levels on T Peak‐to‐End Interval and Tp‐e/QT Ratio in Elite Athletes
Author(s) -
Duyuler Serkan,
Türker Duyuler Pınar,
Batur Mustafa Kemal
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
annals of noninvasive electrocardiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.494
H-Index - 48
eISSN - 1542-474X
pISSN - 1082-720X
DOI - 10.1111/anec.12365
Subject(s) - medicine , qt interval , qrs complex , homocysteine , transferrin saturation , cardiology , electrocardiography , anemia , iron deficiency
Background Electrocardiography (ECG) is frequently used in preparticipation evaluation of competitive athletes. Repolarization heterogeneities on ECG is a well‐known indicator for malignant ventricular arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death. We aimed to investigate the effect of iron and homocysteine levels on arrhythmogenic indicators, T peak‐to‐end (Tp‐e) interval, and Tp‐e/QT ratio in elite athletes. Methods A total of 72 players (48 football and 24 basketball) with a mean age of 25.4 ± 5.0 years were included to the analysis. Blood biochemistry, homocysteine level, and iron parameters (transferrin saturation and serum iron) were obtained by standard methods. Duration of QRS, QT interval, and Tp‐e interval were measured manually on the precordial leads and Tp‐e/QT ratio was calculated. Results Baseline demographic and clinical characteristics of the study population were compared in two groups according to the median value of Tp‐e/QT = 0.219. Both iron and transferrin saturations were higher in the above median group (P = 0.001 and P = 0.002, respectively), however, homocysteine levels were not statistically different among two groups (P = 0.405). In correlation analysis, both serum iron and transferrin saturation were significantly correlated with Tp‐e interval (r = 0.368; P = 0.001 and r = 0.394; P = 0.00, respectively) and Tp‐e/QT ratio (r = 0.357; P = 0.002 and r = 0.372; P = 0.001, respectively). Multiple stepwise regression analysis revealed that transferrin saturation was an independent predictor of Tp‐e interval and Tp‐e/QT ratio (β = 0.325; P = 0.002 and β = 0.372; P = 0.001, respectively). Conclusion This study showed an independent relationship between iron status and Tp‐e interval and Tp‐e/QT ratios of elite sport players which were also not correlated with serum homocysteine levels.