title: Evaluation of Electrocardiographic T-peak to T-end Interval in Subjects with Increased Epicardial Fat Tissue Thickness.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The association between periatrial adiposity and atrial arrhythmias has been shown in previous studies. However, there are not enough available data on the association between epicardial fat tissue (EFT) thickness and parameters of ventricular repolarization. Thus, we aimed to evaluate the association of EFT thickness with indices of ventricular repolarization by using T-peak to T-end (Tp-e) interval and Tp-e/QT ratio.
  
  
  METHODS
  The present study included 50 patients whose EFT thickness ≥ 9 mm (group 1) and 40 control subjects with EFT thickness < 9 mm (group 2). Transthoracic echocardiographic examination was performed in all participants. QT parameters, Tp-e intervals and Tp-e/QT ratio were measured from the 12-lead electrocardiogram.
  
  
  RESULTS
  QTd (41.1 ± 2.5 vs 38.6 ± 3.2, p < 0.001) and corrected QTd (46.7 ± 4.7 vs 43.7 ± 4, p = 0.002) were significantly higher in group 1 when compared to group 2. The Tp-e interval (76.5 ± 6.3, 70.3 ± 6.8, p < 0.001), cTp-e interval (83.1 ± 4.3 vs. 76±4.9, p < 0.001), Tp-e/QT (0.20 ± 0.02 vs. 0.2 ± 0.02, p < 0.001) and Tp-e/QTc ratios (0.2 ± 0.01 vs. 0.18 ± 0.01, p < 0.001) were increased in group 1 in comparison to group 2. Significant positive correlations were found between EFT thickness and Tp-e interval (r = 0.548, p < 0.001), cTp-e interval (r = 0.259, p = 0.01), and Tp-e/QT (r = 0.662, p < 0.001) and Tp-e/QTc ratios (r = 0.560, p < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study shows that Tp-e and cTp-e interval, Tp-e/QT and Tp-e/QTc ratios were increased in subjects with increased EFT, which may suggest an increased risk of ventricular arrhythmia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, School of Medicine, İstanbul Bilim University, İstanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ozgur
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Kaplan
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Malatya State Hospital, Malatya, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ertugrul
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kurtoglu
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Education And Research Hospital, Ahi Evran University, Kırsehir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Gokay
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nar
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Malatya State Hospital, Malatya, Turkey.
authors.forename: Erdogan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Yasar
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Malatya State Hospital, Malatya, Turkey.
authors.forename: Gokhan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gozubuyuk
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Malatya State Hospital, Malatya, Turkey.
authors.forename: Cem
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dogan
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Malatya State Hospital, Malatya, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ahmet Ugur
authors.initials: AU
authors.lastname: Boz
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Malatya State Hospital, Malatya, Turkey.
authors.forename: Sıho
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hidayet
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, School of Medicine, İnönü University, Malatya, Turkey.
authors.forename: Hasan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Pekdemir
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004452:Echocardiography; D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009929:Organ Size; D010496:Pericardium / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012016:Reference Values; D012307:Risk Factors; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D017180:Tachycardia, Ventricular / Q000503:physiopathology*