Analysis of athlete QT intervals by age: Fridericia and Hodges heart rate corrections outperform Bazett for athlete ECG screening

Abstract

BackgroundCardiac screening of elite athletes including a 12‑lead electrocardiogram (ECG) is recommended by numerous international bodies. Current athlete ECG interpretation guidelines recommend the Bazett method to correct the QT interval (QTc). ObjectiveThis study sought to investigate normative QTc changes by age using athlete screening ECGs and different QT correction methods in a population of elite cricketers. MethodsInitial cardiac screening ECGs from an existing database of elite Australian cricketers aged 14–35 years were examined. Average QT interval, QTcB (corrected QT–Bazett), QTcF (Fridericia), QTcH (Hodges), and heart rate (HR) were analyzed by age and sex. ResultsA total of 1310 athletes (66% male, 34% female) were included with mean age 19.1 years and mean heart rate 66.9 bpm (range 38-121 bpm). With increasing age, HR decreased and absolute QT increased. The pattern of QTc change with age differed depending on the method of correction: Bazett correction (QTcB) demonstrated a “dish-shaped” or broad U-shaped appearance; while Fridericia and Hodges corrections showed a linear increase in QTc from young to older age. The Bazett method had a stronger correlation of HR with QTc (R2 = 0.32) than either Fridericia (R2 = 0.0007) or Hodges (R2 = 0.009) methods. ConclusionsThe Bazett method is not the most accurate QT correction in athletes, especially during adolescence. In elite cricketers, QTcB revealed a drop in QTc from adolescence to early adulthood due to mis-correction of the QT interval. The Fridericia method has the smoothest correction of HR and least QT variation by age and may be preferred for athlete screening.