QT interval disturbances in elderly residents of long-term care facilities.
BACKGROUND
The QT interval reflects the total duration of ventricular myocardial repolarization. Disturbed QT--either prolonged or shortened--is associated with arrhythmia and is life-threatening.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate an elderly population for disturbed QT interval.


METHODS
We conducted a cross-sectional study on residents of long-term care wards in a geriatric hospital. Excluded were those with pacemaker, atrial fibrillation or bundle branch block. The standard 12 lead and lead 2 electrocardiograms in the patients' files were used for the evaluation of QT interval.


RESULTS
We screened the ECGs of 178 residents. QTc prolongation based on the mean 12 ECG leads was detected in 48 (28%), while 45 (25%) had prolonged QTc based on lead L2. Factors associated with QT prolongation were male gender, chronic renal failure and diabetes mellitus. Short QT was found in 7 residents (4%) and was not related to any parameter.


CONCLUSIONS
About one-third of the elderly long-term care residents in our study had QT disturbances. Such a considerable number warrants close QT interval follow-up in predisposed patients.
Shmuel Harofe Geriatric Medical Center, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Ramat Aviv, Israel. elubart@hotmail.com
Emily
E
Lubart
Refael
R
Segal
Stella
S
Megid
Alexandra
A
Yarovoy
Arthur
A
Leibovitz
D000200:Action Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006329:Heart Conduction System / Q000502:physiology*; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006757:Hospital Units; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000150:complications; D008134:Long-Term Care; D008297:Male