Effect of essential hypertension on QTc dispersion in patients with intracerebral haemorrhage

Abstract

To investigate the effects of essential hypertension on QTc dispersion (QTcd) in patients with intracerebral haematoma (ICH). Materials and methods: This prospective study included adult patients presenting with acute ICH within the first 24 h of ictus to the Emergency Department (ED). On admission, following the first clinical assessment of patients, a complete 12-lead ECG and non-contrast computed tomography (CT) were obtained from each patient. Then, the patients were divided into 2 subgroups according to the presence of hypertension history. The patient groups were compared to each other as well as the control group for QTcd. Results: The study groups consisted of 47 hypertensive (group 1) without evidence of left ventricular hypertrophy and 30 non-hypertensive patients (group 2). Forthy two subjects served as control. While in the hypertensive patient group mean QTcd was 49.36 ± 20 ms, in the non-hypertensive group, it was 48.00 ± 19 ms (P > 0.05). Conclusion: In the present study, although QTcd was higher in the group 1 compared to group 2, this difference was not statistically significant. Thus, systemic hypertension does not seem to have a great effect on post-stroke QTcd in ICH patients.