title: Development and validation of a risk score to predict QT interval prolongation in hospitalized patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Identifying hospitalized patients at risk for QT interval prolongation could lead to interventions to reduce the risk of torsades de pointes. Our objective was to develop and validate a risk score for QT prolongation in hospitalized patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In this study, in a single tertiary care institution, consecutive patients (n=900) admitted to cardiac care units comprised the risk score development group. The score was then applied to 300 additional patients in a validation group. Corrected QT (QTc) interval prolongation (defined as QTc>500 ms or an increase of >60 ms from baseline) occurred in 274 (30.4%) and 90 (30.0%) patients in the development group and validation group, respectively. Independent predictors of QTc prolongation included the following: female (odds ratio, 1.5; 95% confidence interval, 1.1-2.0), diagnosis of myocardial infarction (2.4 [1.6-3.9]), septic shock (2.7 [1.5-4.8]), left ventricular dysfunction (2.7 [1.6-5.0]), administration of a QT-prolonging drug (2.8 [2.0-4.0]), ≥2 QT-prolonging drugs (2.6 [1.9-5.6]), or loop diuretic (1.4 [1.0-2.0]), age >68 years (1.3 [1.0-1.9]), serum K⁺ <3.5 mEq/L (2.1 [1.5-2.9]), and admitting QTc >450 ms (2.3; confidence interval [1.6-3.2]). Risk scores were developed by assigning points based on log odds ratios. Low-, moderate-, and high-risk ranges of 0 to 6, 7 to 10, and 11 to 21 points, respectively, best predicted QTc prolongation (C statistic=0.823). A high-risk score ≥11 was associated with sensitivity=0.74, specificity=0.77, positive predictive value=0.79, and negative predictive value=0.76. In the validation group, the incidences of QTc prolongation were 15% (low risk); 37% (moderate risk); and 73% (high risk).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A risk score using easily obtainable clinical variables predicts patients at highest risk for QTc interval prolongation and may be useful in guiding monitoring and treatment decisions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy Practice, College of Pharmacy, Purdue University, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA. jtisdale@purdue.edu
authors.forename: James E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Tisdale
authors.forename: Heather A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Jaynes
authors.forename: Joanna R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Kingery
authors.forename: Noha A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Mourad
authors.forename: Tate N
authors.initials: TN
authors.lastname: Trujillo
authors.forename: Brian R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Overholser
authors.forename: Richard J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Kovacs
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003325:Coronary Care Units; D003661:Decision Support Techniques; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007196:Indiana; D016015:Logistic Models; D008133:Long QT Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D062606:Tertiary Care Centers; D016171:Torsades de Pointes / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control
keywords: QT interval; electrocardiography; predictors; risk factors; torsades de pointes