title: Would corrected QT dispersion predict left ventricular hypertrophy in hypertensive patients?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We explored whether QT corrected dispersion (QTcD) can identify left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) in hypertensives.
  
  
  METHODS
  We enrolled 100 hypertensive patients (study group) and 30 normotensive subjects (control group). Echocardiography was performed to measure left ventricular mass and left ventricular mass index. Electrocardiogram was performed to measure QTcD.
  
  
  RESULTS
  LVH was present in 42 patients (42%) of the study group, none among controls. Hypertensive patients had significantly greater indices of LVH and QTcD compared with controls (p <0.001 for all). Similarly, among hypertensive patients, those with LVH had a significantly greater QTcD compared with those without (p <0.001). Pearson's correlation coefficient test demonstrated strongly positive correlations between QTcD and the indices of LVH (p <0.001 for all). Analysis of the receiver operating characteristic curves identified 60 ms as the optimal cut-off value of QTcD that best predicts LVH in hypertensives. Using this value, QTcD was able to predict LVH with a sensitivity of 92.9% and specificity 98.2%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  QTcD is significantly increased in hypertensive patients with LVH compared with those without, being strongly correlated with the indices of LVH. A QTcD cut-off value of 60 ms predicted LVH in hypertensive patients with a high sensitivity and specificity.
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt.
authors.forename: Mohamed G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Abdal-Barr
authors.forename: Mina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Safwat
authors.forename: Wail
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Nammas
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004452:Echocardiography; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D017379:Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009200:Myocardial Contraction / Q000502:physiology*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012307:Risk Factors; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric