Impact of psychotropic drugs on QT interval dispersion in adult patients.
BACKGROUND
Drug-induced increase in QT dispersion has been associated with potentially fatal ventricular arrhythmias. Little is known about the use of psychotropic substances, alone or in combination with other drugs on QT dispersion.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the impact of psychotropic drugs on QT interval dispersion in adults.


METHODS
An observational cohort study was designed involving 161 patients hospitalized from an emergency department at a tertiary hospital, divided into psychotropic users or non-users. Demographic, clinical, laboratory data and drugs used on a regular basis were collected on admission, in addition to 12-lead electrocardiogram with QT dispersion measurement.


RESULTS
QT dispersion was significantly higher in the psychotropic user group compared to non-users (69.25 ± 25.5 ms vs. 57.08 ± 23.4 ms; p = 0.002). The QT interval corrected by Bazzett formula was also higher in the psychotropic drugs user group, with statistical significance. (439.79 ± 31.14 ms vs. 427.71 ± 28.42 ms; p = 0.011). A regression analysis model showed a positive association between the number of psychotropic drugs used and QT interval dispersion, with r = 0.341 and p < 0.001.


CONCLUSIONS
The use of psychotropic drugs was associated with increased QT dispersion and this increase was accentuated, as the number of psychotropic drugs used was higher.
Hospital Copa D'Or/IDOR, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.
Bruno de Queiroz
Bde Q
Claudio
Hospital Copa D'Or/IDOR, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.
Marcelle Azevedo Nossar
MA
Costa
Hospital Copa D'Or/IDOR, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.
Filipe
F
Penna
Hospital Copa D'Or/IDOR, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.
Mariana Teixeira
MT
Konder
Hospital Copa D'Or/IDOR, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.
Bruno Miguel Jorge
BM
Celoria
Hospital Copa D'Or/IDOR, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.
Luciana Lopes de
LL
Souza
Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.
Roberto
R
Pozzan
Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.
Roberta Siuffo
RS
Schneider
Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.
Felipe Neves
FN
Albuquerque
Hospital Copa D'Or/IDOR, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.
Denilson Campos
DC
Albuquerque
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D016757:Death, Sudden, Cardiac / Q000209:etiology; D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D006321:Heart / Q000187:drug effects*; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012016:Reference Values; D012307:Risk Factors; D017180:Tachycardia, Ventricular / Q000139:chemically induced; D013997:Time Factors
D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs