Prevalence and risk factors for prolonged QTc in a multiethnic cohort in rural Hawaii.
BACKGROUND
Few studies have examined the biochemical risk factors for prolonged QTc, a predictor of mortality in numerous studies. We report on the prevalence and risk factors for prolonged QTc in a multiethnic population in rural Hawaii.


METHODS
Electrocardiograms were collected from 1415 participants in a cross-sectional survey. The QT interval lengths were corrected for heart rate using Bazett's formula. Linear and logistic regression models were used to examine associations between various cardiovascular risk factors with QTc.


RESULTS
Among the CVD risk factors examined, only age, gender, 2-h glucose, and systolic blood pressure (SBP) were independently associated with QTc interval length. Significant ethnic differences in prevalence were also observed, which persisted after controlling for other risk factors.


CONCLUSIONS
Significant associations between prolonged QTc and ethnic ancestry, but not cholesterol or triglyceride levels, suggest that genetic factors may play a more important role in determining QTc interval length than conventional biochemical and metabolic CVD risk factors.
Grandinetti
Andrew
A
University of Hawaii at Manoa, Pacific Biomedical Research Center, 1993 East-West Road, Honolulu, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA. andrew@pbrc.hawaii.edu
Seifried
Steven
S
Mor
Joanne
J
Chang
Healani K
HK
Theriault
André G
AG
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001786:Blood Glucose; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology / Q000401:mortality; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D006254:Hawaii / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology; D006801:Humans; D008133:Long QT Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D015995:Prevalence; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D012424:Rural Population; D012737:Sex Factors
D001786:Blood Glucose