title: Insular involvement is associated with QT prolongation: ECG abnormalities in patients with acute stroke.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Aim was to assess the frequencies of electrocardiographic (ECG) abnormalities, including QT prolongation, in acute stroke patients and their association with stroke severity, stroke subtype and location, and cardiovascular risk factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospectively, admission 12-lead ECG findings, stroke characteristics, cardiovascular risk factors, and potential QT-prolonging factors were collected in 122 consecutive patients with acute stroke.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eighty-four patients (69%) had ECG abnormalities, most frequently ST changes in 34%, QT prolongation in 31%, and atrial fibrillation in 27% of them. Insular involvement and prior stroke independently predicted QT prolongation in small infarcts (insular involvement OR 0.12, 95% CI 0.02-0.74, p=0.022; prior stroke OR 0.20, 95% CI 0.06-0.70, p = 0.012).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Continuous ECG monitoring and assessment of the QT interval should be mandatory in patients with acute stroke.
authors.affiliation: Neurosciences Centre, Donau-Universität Krems, Krems, Austria. neurologie@donauklinikum.at
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tatschl
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Stöllberger
authors.forename: Karl
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Matz
authors.forename: Nilgün
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yilmaz
authors.forename: Raoul
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Eckhardt
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nowotny
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dachenhausen
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Brainin
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000150:complications*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008133:Long QT Syndrome / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology