Abstract
BackgroundVentricular arrhythmias (VAs) are a frequent cause of cardiovascular mortality, especially in developing countries. Prolongation of corrected QT (QTc) interval predisposes patients to life-threatening VAs. Our study aims to assess the correlation of prolonged QTc interval with VAs and in-hospital mortality among ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients. MethodsThis cross-sectional study analyzed the data from 40 patients with a confirmed diagnosis of STEMI and prolonged QTc interval. The patients were evaluated for several characteristics including their electrocardiography (ECG) findings. The frequency of in-hospital mortality and VAs developed after admission were recorded. Spearman correlation was used to assess the correlation of prolonged QTc interval with VAs and in-hospital mortality.ResultsOut of 40 cases, 30 patients were males and 10 were females with a mean age hovering at 52.95 ± 10.65 years. The mean QTc interval of our patients was 512.02 ± 49.74 milliseconds (ms). A total of 11 (27.5%) patients developed VAs while 14 (35%) of the patients succumbed to the disease complications. Spearman correlation showed a strong significant positive correlation of QTc interval with VAs (rho = 0.658, p < 0.001) and in-hospital mortality (rho = 0.314, p = 0.04).ConclusionProlonged QTc interval is positively correlated with VAs and in-hospital mortality among STEMI patients. These patients should be regularly monitored and must be managed with caution as they have increased chances to develop VAs and in-hospital mortality. There is an utmost need for curation of guidelines that aid in risk stratification and appropriate management of such patients.
Highlights
Ventricular arrhythmias (VAs) encompass a vast array of cardiac arrhythmias ranging from benign ventricular ectopic beats to fatal ventricular fibrillation [1]
Prolonged QTc interval is positively correlated with VAs and in-hospital mortality among STelevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients
Patients with a prior history of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), permanent pacemaker (PPM) implants, valvular replacement, and coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery were subjected to exclusion
Summary
Ventricular arrhythmias (VAs) encompass a vast array of cardiac arrhythmias ranging from benign ventricular ectopic beats to fatal ventricular fibrillation [1]. Ischemia leading to acute myocardial infarction causes momentous metabolic and electrophysiological alterations that predispose patients to frequent lethal VAs and irreversible myocardial injury [3]. A significant proportion of patients develop VAs in the setting of myocardial infarction [5]. These life-threatening VAs culminate into hemodynamic instability and the fatal demise of the patient. Ventricular arrhythmias (VAs) are a frequent cause of cardiovascular mortality, especially in developing countries. Prolongation of corrected QT (QTc) interval predisposes patients to life-threatening VAs. Our study aims to assess the correlation of prolonged QTc interval with VAs and in-hospital mortality among STelevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients
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