Prognostic value of prolonged ventricular repolarization following myocardial infarction: the BHAT experience. The BHAT Study Group.
In the Beta Blocker Heart Attack Trial (BHAT), 3837 patients were randomized to propranolol (180-240 mg/day) or placebo 5-21 days after a documented myocardial infarction and were followed in a double blind manner for a mean period of 25 months. Twelve lead electrocardiograms were routinely obtained at the time of randomization (baseline electrocardiogram) and at 12 and 24 months of follow-up. There was a positive correlation between baseline QTc interval prolongation (but not QT prolongation) and mortality and sudden death that was independent of treatment group. The data for non-sudden death and non-fatal reinfarction exhibit similar trends. We conclude that: (1) QTc prolongation identifies a high risk subset of post myocardial infarction patients. (2) The relative benefit of propranolol is similar in patients with normal and prolonged QTc.
Peters
R W
RW
Department of Medicine, VA Medical Center, Baltimore, Maryland 21218.
Byington
R P
RP
Barker
A
A
Yusuf
S
S
D003645:Death, Sudden / Q000453:epidemiology; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000150:complications* / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology; D011433:Propranolol / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D013617:Tachycardia, Supraventricular / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*
D011433:Propranolol