title: Prolongation of heart rate-corrected QT interval is a predictor of cardiac autonomic dysfunction in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.
abstract: Heart rate-corrected QT interval duration (QTc) has been shown to be related to cardiac autonomic dysfunction in patients with diabetes mellitus, although this association has not been previously described in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 91 SLE patients and 144 non-SLE connective tissue disease patients visiting our clinic from November 2010 to April 2011. We compared ambulatory heart rate identified by pulse measured by automated machine in an outpatient waiting area versus resting heart rate identified on prior screening electrocardiogram. Heart rate differences were analyzed in relation to QTc interval and other characteristics. Ambulatory and resting heart rate differences were larger among SLE patients with QTc prolongation (QTc > 430 ms) than those without QTc prolongation (mean difference, 15.9 vs. 9.6, p = 0.001). In multivariate analysis, differences in heart rate were associated with QTc prolongation (OR 1.10, 95 % CI 1.01-1.21; p = 0.038), independent of age, duration of disease, immunosuppressant use, hydroxychloroquine use, diabetes mellitus, cardiac abnormality, anti-Ro/SS-A antibody positivity, or resting heart rate. Cardiac autonomic dysfunction is a common manifestation of SLE and may be related to QTc prolongation.
authors.affiliation: Division of Allergy and Rheumatology, St. Luke's International Hospital, 9-1 Akashi-cho, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, 104-8560, Japan, nomura.a24@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Atsushi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nomura
authors.forename: Mitsumasa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kishimoto
authors.forename: Osamu
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: Gautam A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Deshpande
authors.forename: Kenichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yamaguchi
authors.forename: Masato
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Okada
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001341:Autonomic Nervous System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001342:Autonomic Nervous System Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006321:Heart / Q000294:innervation*; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors