QT interval disturbances in hospitalized elderly patients.
BACKGROUND
The QT interval reflects the total duration of ventricular myocardial repolarization. Its prolongation is associated with increased risk of polymorphic ventricular tachycardia, or torsade de pointes, which can be fatal.


OBJECTIVE
To assess the prevalence of both prolonged and short QT interval in patients admitted to an acute geriatric ward.


METHODS
This retrospective study included the records over 6 months of all patients hospitalized in an acute geriatric ward. Excluded were patients with pacemaker, bundle branch block and slow or rapid atrial fibrillation. The standard 12 lead electrocardiogram of each patient was used for the QT interval evaluation.


RESULTS
We screened the files of 422 patients. QTc prolongation based on the mean of 12 ECG leads was detected in 115 patients (27%). Based on lead L2 only, QTc was prolonged in 136 (32%). Associated factors with QT prolongation were congestive heart failure and use of hypnotics. Short QTwas found in 30 patients (7.1%) in lead L2 and in 19 (4.5%) by the mean 12 leads. Short QT was related to a higher heart rate, chronic atrial fibrillation and schizophrenia.


CONCLUSIONS
Our study detected QT segment disturbances in a considerable number of elderly patients admitted acutely to hospital. Further studies should confirm these results and clinicians should consider a close QT interval follow-up in predisposed patients.
Lubart
Emilia
E
Shmuel Harofe Geriatric Medical Center and Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Ramat Aviv, Israel.
Segal
Refael
R
Yearovoi
Alexandra
A
Fridenson
Aharon
A
Baumoehl
Yehuda
Y
Leibovitz
Arthur
A
D000368:Aged; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015897:Comorbidity; D004562:Electrocardiography; D006329:Heart Conduction System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D007557:Israel / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives