title: QT dispersion as a predictor for arrhythmias in patients with acute ST elevation myocardial infarction.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the effect of Heart Rate Variability (HRV) and QT dispersion (QTd) in patients presenting with Acute ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a retrospective study conducted on patients admitted with the diagnosis of acute ST elevation myocardial infarction. In all 100 patients with acute myocardial infarction in one year were subjected to a complete evaluation in terms of history and examination. Besides routine investigations standard 12 lead ECG was evaluated in all cases on admission, after 4 hrs, 24 hrs, 48 hrs and on discharge.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The most common presenting symptoms were chest pain (88%) and dyspnea (50%). Tachycardia was seen in 56% while congestive heart failure was present in 29% patients. Patients who died had a higher QTd in comparison to patients who survived.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Markers of autonomic regulation of heart like QTd provides valuable information about the future course of events in a patient following acute STEMI which can be utilized to plan the future course of management in patients especially predisposed to adverse and catastrophic outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Jersey City Medical Center, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, Jersey City, New jersey 07002, USA.
authors.forename: Fahad
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Aziz
authors.forename: Sujatha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Doddi
authors.forename: Anshu
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alok
authors.forename: Sudheer
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Penupolu
authors.forename: Vijayant
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Benz
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abed