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Effects of Aging and Gender on QT Dispersion in an Overtly Healthy Population
Author(s) -
KASSOTIS JOHN,
COSTEAS CONSTANTINOS,
BEDI ASHWANI K.,
TOLAT ANEESH,
REIFFEL JAMES
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
pacing and clinical electrophysiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.686
H-Index - 101
eISSN - 1540-8159
pISSN - 0147-8389
DOI - 10.1111/j.1540-8159.2000.tb00912.x
Subject(s) - medicine , qt interval , torsades de pointes , cardiology , repolarization , population , electrophysiology , environmental health
The objective of this study was to measure the normal variation of QT dispersion (QT d ) with respect to age and gender. The QT interval is a measure of the duration of ventricular depolarization and repolarization, while the QT d is a measure of the variability of the ventricular recovery time. The QT d has been suggested as a means of identifying those patients at risk for sustained ventricular tachyarrythmias and sudden cardiac death (SCD). A total of 250 patients (120 women, 130 men; age range 20–86 years) were recruited for this study. The QT intervals were measured in each of the 12 standard leads of the electrocardiogram. Data are presented as mean (μ) ± SD. The QT d did not vary significantly within the same gender, A significant difference (P < 0.001) was noted in QT d between men (age [μ] = 53.3 ± 15.6 years, QT d = 0.044 ± 0.019 s) and women (age [μ] = 52.1 ± 15.1 years, QT d = 0.034 ± 0.015 s). Overall, men had a greater QT d , while women had a longer QT. In conclusion, we found that men had a longer QT d which may explain the increased risk of SCD. However, women have a longer QT interval with a smaller QT d A longer QT min , as opposed to a longer QT max , is responsible for the shorter QT d in women. This longer QT min in women may predispose to an increased risk of drug induced torsades de pointes.