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Dispersion of the Corrected QT and JT Interval in the Electrocardiogram of Alcoholic Patients
Author(s) -
C̆orović Naima,
Duraković Zijad,
Mis̆igojDuraković Marjeta
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
alcoholism: clinical and experimental research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.267
H-Index - 153
eISSN - 1530-0277
pISSN - 0145-6008
DOI - 10.1111/j.1530-0277.2006.00018.x
Subject(s) - qt interval , repolarization , cardiology , medicine , anesthesia , electrophysiology
Background: The aim of this study was to analyze the corrected QT interval (QT c ), its dispersion (QT cd ), and the QT interval index (QT cI ) and to compare it with the corrected JT interval (JT c ), its dispersion (JT cd ), and the JT interval index (JT cI ) in long‐term alcoholic users, by investigating the ventricular activation until the completion of repolarization. Methods: The study of ECGs was performed on a selected group of 49 male white alcoholic patients, mean age 53.51±4.78 years. The control group was pair‐matched. The analysis of ECGs was performed according to the Minnesota Code, and Bazett's formula gave the values of the corrected QT interval and JT interval. Results: The results of the descriptive statistics in the group of alcoholics showed a range of the QT cd of 12.0 to 103.0 milliseconds, mean 44.2±18.6 milliseconds, compared with 5.0 to 68.0 milliseconds, mean 23.8±11.1 milliseconds, in the control group ( p <0.0001). The range of JT cd in the alcoholic patients was 11.0 to 88.0 milliseconds, mean 43.0±18.3 milliseconds, compared with 5.0 to 66.0 milliseconds, mean 22.8±12.1 milliseconds, in the control group ( p <0.0001). The QT c from 422.0 to 480.0 milliseconds was obtained in 69.4% of the alcoholic patients and 32.6% of the controls. The QT c over 480.0 milliseconds was found in 24.5% of the alcoholic patients, but was not recorded among the controls at all ( p <0.0001). The QT cd over 50.0 milliseconds was registered in 34.7% of the alcoholic patients, while in the controls a QT cd above 50 milliseconds was found in 2.0% ( p <0.0001). The mean values of QT were markedly higher in the alcoholic patients ( p <0.01) than in the controls. The same was the case with the values of QT d , QT I , QT cd , and QT cI ( p <0.0001). Also, the mean values of JT d , JT I , JT c , JT cd , and JT cI were significantly higher in the alcoholic patients than in the controls ( p <0.0001). The mean value of JT, although higher in the alcoholic patients, did not significantly differ between the examined groups ( p =0.1002). The odds ratio estimated for prolonged QT c and for enlarged QT cd in the alcoholics versus the controls was 31.625 and 25.500 ( p <0.0001), respectively. Conclusions: Persons who consume various alcoholic beverages excessively and for a long time have significantly higher dispersions of the QT c and JT c , intervals and they have a significantly higher estimation of relative risk for the prolonged QT c interval and higher QT c dispersion than the control group, i.e., higher risk of arrhythmias.