MPS 08-04 The association between ST interval and blood pressure in a general population of Korea

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the association of PR interval, QRS duration, and ST interval with systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) in a general population of Korea. Design and Method: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis from the data of Cardiovascular and Metabolic diseases Etiology Research Center, an ongoing cohort of general population. Total 587 men and 1065 women were separately analyzed. PR interval, QRS duration and QT interval was obtained from electrocardiogram; ST interval was calculated by subtracting QRS duration from QT interval. Resting blood pressure was measured using an automatic sphygmomanometer. Linear regression analysis was used to obtain the estimates of each SBP and DBP with each PR interval, QRS duration, and ST interval, adjusting for age, body mass index, heart rate, triglyceride, high density lipoprotein cholesterol, smoking behavior, insulin, and diagnosis of hypertension or diabetes. Results: One beat per minute increase of resting heart rate was significantly associated with high DBP in both sexes, and low SBP in women. In men, the estimates (p value) for SBP (mmHg) with 10 millisecond increase of each PR interval, QRS duration, and ST interval was −0.013 (0.86), 0.467 (0.10), and 0.303 (0.01), respectively. The corresponding estimates (p value) was −0.045 (0.41), −0.255 (0.20), and −0.356 (<.001) for DBP (mmHg). In women, the estimates (p value) was 0.020 (0.61), 0.073 (0.37), and 0.053 (0.01) for SBP, and −0.017 (0.53), −0.053 (0.34), and −0.041 (0.004) for DBP. Conclusions: Beyond the three components of a heart rhythm, ST interval was significantly associated with high SBP and low DBP. This finding suggests that period of ventricle depolarization is associated with blood pressure.