Association between C-reactive protein, corrected QT interval and presence of QT prolongation in hypertensive patients.
C-reactive protein (CRP) and corrected QT (QTc) interval are predictors of cardiovascular disease. Whether CRP is associated with QTc interval and QT prolongation is unknown in hypertensive patients. We recruited hypertensive patients from a cardiovascular clinic in a tertiary medical center in Taiwan. All received standard 12-lead electrocardiogram examination. QT prolongation was defined as QTc interval ≥ 440 ms in men or ≥ 450 ms in women. High-sensitive CRP kits were used for the measurement of the CRP levels. A total of 466 consecutive patients were finally enrolled. Mean age was 60.6 ± 12.0 years. CRP level was correlated with QTc interval (p < 0.001) and presence of QT prolongation (p = 0.014). Multivariate regression analysis showed that CRP level (p = 0.001), age (p = 0.004), sex (p < 0.001), height (p = 0.001), low-density lipoprotein (p = 0.041), and QRS interval (p < 0.001) were associated with QTc interval. Furthermore, CRP level [odds ratio (OR) = 1.203, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.027-1.410, p = 0.022], age (OR = 1.040, 95% CI = 1.010-1.071, p = 0.009), waist (OR = 1.033, 95% CI = 1.000-1.066, p = 0.047), triglyceride (OR = 0.993, 95% CI = 0.987-0.999, p = 0.021) and QRS interval (OR = 1.046, 95% CI = 1.028-1.065, p < 0.001) independently predicted the presence of QT prolongation. Because CRP is an independent predictor of QTc interval and presence of QT prolongation, it could be considered in the risk assessment for hypertensive patients.
Department of Family Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
Kai-Ting
KT
Chang
Department of Emergency Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
Hsu-Shien
HS
Shu
Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Electronic address: ksmale@seed.net.tw.
Chun-Yuan
CY
Chu
Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Wen-Hsien
WH
Lee
Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Faculty of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Po-Chao
PC
Hsu
Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Faculty of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Ho-Ming
HM
Su
Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Faculty of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Tsung-Hsien
TH
Lin
Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Faculty of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Wen-Chol
WC
Voon
Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Faculty of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Wen-Ter
WT
Lai
Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Faculty of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Sheng-Hsiung
SH
Sheu
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011379:Prognosis; D012044:Regression Analysis; D014463:Ultrasonography
D002097:C-Reactive Protein
C-reactive protein; Hypertension; Inflammation; QT interval; QT prolongation