QT interval prolongation and the risks of stroke and coronary heart disease in a general Japanese population: the Hisayama study.
Uncertainty remains regarding the value of heart-rate-corrected QT interval (QTc) prolongation on electrocardiogram for predicting cardiovascular disease (CVD), particularly among Asian populations. The objective of the present analysis was to analyze the association of QTc prolongation with the development of CVD in a general Japanese population. During the follow-up period, 303 CVD events were observed. Among men, the age-adjusted incidence rates of CVD rose with prolonged QTc levels: 10.9, 12.1, 14.1 and 37.8 per 1000 person-years for subgroups defined by QTc levels of <400, 400-419, 420-439 and > or =440 ms, respectively (P=0.0007 for trend). The risk of CVD in the highest group was 3.09-fold (95% confidence interval, 1.82-5.25) higher than that in the lowest group even after controlling for other confounding factors: age, hypertension, heart rate, electrocardiogram abnormalities, diabetes, impaired glucose tolerance, impaired fasting glycemia, body mass index, total and high-density lipoprotein cholesterols, alcohol intake, smoking habit and regular exercise. Similar associations were observed for the outcomes of stroke and coronary heart disease. Among women, in contrast, no clear associations were found between QTc levels and the risk of CVD events. In conclusion, prolonged QTc levels were associated with the development of CVD among general Japanese men. Measurement of QTc intervals is likely to provide additional information for the detection of individuals at high risk of future CVD events.
Department of Environmental Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.
Daisuke
D
Maebuchi
Hisatomi
H
Arima
Yasufumi
Y
Doi
Toshiharu
T
Ninomiya
Koji
K
Yonemoto
Yumihiro
Y
Tanizaki
Michiaki
M
Kubo
Jun
J
Hata
Kiyoshi
K
Matsumura
Mitsuo
M
Iida
Yutaka
Y
Kiyohara
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology; D044466:Asian People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015992:Body Mass Index; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D018149:Glucose Intolerance / Q000453:epidemiology; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology; D015994:Incidence; D029593:Jervell-Lange Nielsen Syndrome; D008133:Long QT Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012306:Risk; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D020521:Stroke / Q000453:epidemiology*
D008076:Cholesterol, HDL