[Relationship between corrected QT interval and cardiovascular risk factors in young healthy adults: the Kangwha study].
OBJECTIVE
Prolongation of the heart rate-corrected QT (QTc) interval has been reported to be associated with cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. However, few studies have examined the relationship between the QTc interval and cardiovascular risk factors in young healthy people. The aim of this study was to examine the associations between the QTc interval and cardiovascular risk factors in young healthy adults.


METHODS
This study was performed as part of the Kangwha study, which started in 1986, and is an on-going follow-up study on blood pressure and related cardiovascular risk factors. In follow-up examinations during 2005, cardiovascular risk factors, including anthropometrics, blood pressure, blood chemistry and carotid ultrasonography, were measured, and questionnaires on health behaviors completed by 127 men and 149 women aged 25 years. The QTc interval was measured on the resting 12-lead electrocardiogram using an automatic analysis program.


RESULTS
The mean QTc interval was significantly longer in women (419+/-17ms) than in men (405+/-17ms) (p<0.001). A significant positive correlation was found between the QTc interval and waist-hip ratio (p=0.030) in men. Women showed a positive correlation between the QTc interval and systolic blood pressure (p=0.017). On a multiple regression analysis, the QTc interval was positively associated with the waist-hip ratio in men (p=0.012) and with the systolic blood pressure (p=0.020) in women.


CONCLUSIONS
In young healthy Korean adults, the QTc interval was independently associated with the waist-hip ratio in men and with the systolic blood pressure in women.
Ahn
Song Vogue
SV
Department of Preventive Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine.
Kim
Hyeon Chang
HC
Hur
Nam Wook
NW
Ha
Kyoung Soo
KS
Jang
Hoo Sun
HS
Kim
Jin-Bae
JB
Suh
Il
I
D000328:Adult; D000886:Anthropometry; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking; D014463:Ultrasonography; D049629:Waist-Hip Ratio
D008055:Lipids