Premium
The association between body temperature and electrocardiographic parameters in normothermic healthy volunteers
Author(s) -
Fienieg Bart,
Hassing Gerardus J.,
Wall Hein E. C.,
Westen Gerard J. P.,
Kemme Michiel J. B.,
Adiyaman Ahmet,
Elvan Arif,
Burggraaf Jacobus,
Gal Pim
Publication year - 2021
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/pace.14120
Subject(s) - medicine , qt interval , sinus rhythm , cardiology , qrs complex , hyperthermia , heart rate , electrocardiography , pr interval , anesthesia , atrial fibrillation , blood pressure
Abstract Background Previous studies reported that hypo‐ and hyperthermia are associated with several atrial and ventricular electrocardiographical parameters, including corrected QT (QTc) interval. Enhanced characterization of variations in QTc interval and normothermic body temperature aids in better understanding the underlying mechanism behind drug induced QTc interval effects. The analysis’ objective was to investigate associations between body temperature and electrocardiographical parameters in normothermic healthy volunteers. Methods Data from 3023 volunteers collected at our center were retrospectively analyzed. Subjects were considered healthy after review of collected data by a physician, including a normal tympanic body temperature (35.5‐37.5°C) and in sinus rhythm. A linear multivariate model with body temperature as a continuous was performed. Another multivariate analysis was performed with only the QT subintervals as independent variables and body temperature as dependent variable. Results Mean age was 33.8 ± 17.5 years and mean body temperature was 36.6 ± 0.4°C. Body temperature was independently associated with age (standardized coefficient [SC] = −0.255, P < .001), female gender (SC = +0.209, P < .001), heart rate (SC = +0.231, P < .001), P‐wave axis (SC = −0.051, P < .001), J‐point elevation in lead V4 (SC = −0.121, P < .001), and QTcF duration (SC = −0.061, P = .002). In contrast, other atrial and atrioventricular (AV) nodal parameters were not independently associated with body temperature. QT subinterval analysis revealed that only QRS duration (SC = −0.121, P < .001) was independently associated with body temperature. Conclusion Body temperature in normothermic healthy volunteers was associated with heart rate, P‐wave axis, J‐point amplitude in lead V4, and ventricular conductivity, the latter primarily through prolongation of the QRS duration.