title: Hyperbaric oxygen therapy reduces the risk of QTc interval prolongation in patients with diabetes and hard-to-heal foot ulcers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Heart rate corrected QT (QTc) interval prolongation is a risk factor associated with increased mortality. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBO) has previously been shown to have acute beneficial effects on QTc dispersion. The aim of this study was to evaluate long-term effects of HBO on QTc time in diabetic patients with hard-to-heal foot ulcers.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a prospective, double-blinded placebo-controlled study, patients were randomized to 40 treatment sessions with either HBO or air (placebo), at 2.5 ATA. Patients fulfilling >35 completed treatment sessions were included in the evaluation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the initial 75 patients (38 HBO/37 placebo), two were excluded due to pacemaker use. Baseline characteristics were similar between groups. At the 2-year follow-up, QTc time was significantly shorter in the HBO compared to the placebo group (438 vs. 453ms, p<0.05). Further, fewer HBO treated patients had a QTc time >450ms (22 vs. 53 %, p<0.02). This difference seemed to be caused by a significant prolongation of the QTc interval in the placebo group (427 (419-459) at baseline vs. 456ms (424-469) after 2years), whereas no significant change was seen in HBO treated patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HBO treatment might protect against QTc prolongation in this high-risk diabetic population.
authors: Clinical Sciences in Lund, Lund University, Lund, Sweden; Department of Endocrinology, Skåne University Hospital, Sweden. Electronic address: Katarina.fagher@med.lu.se.
authors: Katarina
authors: K
authors: Fagher
authors: Clinical Sciences in Lund, Lund University, Lund, Sweden; Department of Endocrinology, Skåne University Hospital, Sweden.
authors: Per
authors: P
authors: Katzman
authors: Clinical Sciences in Lund, Lund University, Lund, Sweden; Department of Endocrinology, Skåne University Hospital, Sweden.
authors: Magnus
authors: M
authors: Löndahl
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D055109:Ankle Brachial Index; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000150:complications*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications*; D058065:Diabetic Cardiomyopathies / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D017719:Diabetic Foot / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006931:Hyperbaric Oxygenation; D008133:Long QT Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology; D014945:Wound Healing
keywords: Diabetes complications; Diabetes mellitus; Diabetic autonomic neuropathy; Foot ulcer; Hyperbaric oxygen therapy