Corrected QT interval in white young healthy women: should the norms be updated?
The electrocardiographic QT interval duration is a frequently studied ECG parameter. The aim of this study was to compare the quantitative influence of nine QTc formulae and discuss the duration of QT/QTc normal values. The QTc duration was calculated from manually measured QT intervals and heart rate of the Frank XYZ electrocardiograms in 138 white young healthy Slovak women (18-24 years, 690 primary ECG measurements). Dispersion of the QT/QTc interval values was not Gaussian (Shapiro-Wilk test) in most cases. The course of the measured QT regression lines were -1.9186 HR + 511.13 ms or 0.1504RR + 245.72 ms. Median QTc duration in ms was decreasing in this sequence: Bazett 407.04, Fridericia 394.61, Hodges 393.27, Rautaharju and Arrowood 368.79, Framingham-Sagie 368.78, Lecocq 368.70, Sarma 368.66, and Malik 338.70. No QTc value above 440 ms was found after Hodges' correction only. The differences of median QTc values were significant (P < 0.01) in most possible combinations (Kruskal-Wallis test). We recommend using the QTc formula created from observed persons only and updating the QT interval norms. So-called "ideal" QTc models from other not examined persons are methodically incorrect and may produce the misleading results. The frequently used Bazett formula is appropriate for orientation only.
P. J. Šafárik University Department of Medical Physiology, Faculty of Medicine Košice Slovak Republic.
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Kujaník
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Petrovičová
D000293:Adolescent; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D012016:Reference Values; D055815:Young Adult