title: QTc interval prolongation in HIV-infected patients: a case-control study by 24-hour Holter ECG recording.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Aim of the study was to assess QTc interval by a 24-hour ECG recording in a group of HIV-infected individuals with a basal prolonged QTc. The risk factors associated with QTc prolongation and the indices of cardiovascular autonomic control were also evaluated.
  
  
  METHODS
  A case-control study was performed using as cases 32 HIV-infected patients with prolonged (>440 msec) QTc interval as assessed by Holter ECG, and as controls 64 HIV-infected subjects with normal QTc interval. Autonomic function was evaluated by heart rate variability analysis during 24-hour recording.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Duration of HIV disease was significantly longer among cases than among controls (p=0.04). Waist/hip ratio was also higher among cases than among controls (p=0.05). Frequency domain analysis showed the absence of physiologic decrease of low frequency (LF) in the night period in both cases and controls. The LF night in cases showed a statistically significant reduction when compared with controls (p=0.007).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In our study group, QTc interval prolongation was associated with a longer duration of HIV infection and with a greater waist/hip ratio. HIV patients with QTc interval prolongation and with a longer duration of HIV infection were more likely to have an impairment of parasympathetic and sympathetic cardiac component.
authors.affiliation: UO Geriatria, Ospedale di Montefiascone, Montefiascone 01027, Italy
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fiorentini
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Petrosillo
authors.forename: Angelo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Di Stefano
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cicalini
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Borgognoni
authors.forename: Evangelo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Boumis
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tubani
authors.forename: Pierangelo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chinello
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001341:Autonomic Nervous System / Q000503:physiopathology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D049629:Waist-Hip Ratio