title: QTc interval lengthening in first-episode schizophrenia (FES) patients in the earliest stages of antipsychotic treatment.
abstract: Antipsychotic use is reported to be associated with a higher risk of sudden cardiac death and new users are especially susceptible to that risk. In this study, we focused on the ability of antipsychotics to prolong the QTc interval at the earliest stages of antipsychotic use. We employed a retrospective cohort study design in a naturalistic setting where having three ECG measurements over time (at baseline and after drug exposure) in antipsychotic-naïve, first-episode schizophrenia (FES) inpatients. The results revealed, in this relatively homogeneous, drug naïve FES patient sample, that QTc intervals were statistically significantly prolongated after a relatively short term (2-4weeks) of antipsychotic treatments, compared with baseline. After about 2 or 4weeks of antipsychotic use, the risk of abnormal QTc prolongation was higher than at baseline. These results reinforce the importance of monitoring risk factors and assessing QTc prolongation at the beginning and throughout treatment with antipsychotics.
authors.affiliation: The Second Affiliated Hospital, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang 453003, China; School of Public Health, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang 453003, China.
authors.forename: Desheng
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zhai
authors.affiliation: The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China.
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lang
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang 453003, China.
authors.forename: Gaopan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang 453003, China.
authors.forename: Yijun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Pharmacology, McLean Hospital & Harvard Medical School, 115 Mill St. Belmont, MA 02478, USA.
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang 453003, China.
authors.forename: Dushuang
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang 453003, China.
authors.forename: Taizhen
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.affiliation: First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, Weihui 453000, China.
authors.forename: Yuxin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang 453003, China; Sanquan Medical College, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang 453003, China.
authors.forename: Wenxi
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang 453003, China. Electronic address: zhaoyingxxmc@163.com.
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: The Second Affiliated Hospital, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang 453003, China. Electronic address: zhangruilingxx@163.com.
authors.forename: Ruiling
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002648:Child; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008133:Long QT Syndrome / Q000139:chemically induced*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents
keywords: Antipsychotics; First-episode schizophrenia; QTc interval; Short-term