QT interval dispersion and autonomic modulation in subjects with anxiety

Abstract

This study was designed to assess Q-T interval dispersion as a marker of electrical instability in subjects with anxiety. Recent observations have shown that the presence of anxiety symptoms increases the risk of sudden death. The Kawachi anxiety questionnaire identified 29 subjects (male/female ratio 13:16) who scored 0, 22 subjects (male/female ratio 14:8) who scored 1, and 37 subjects (male/female ratio 13:24) who scored 2 or more. In all subjects we measured electrocardiographic interlead QT dispersion and autonomic function through spectral analysis of R-R interval and blood pressure variabilities and left ventricular mass. Compared with subjects who scored 0, those reporting 2 or more symptoms showed increased heart rate-corrected QT dispersion (54.9 ± 1.7 ms vs 34.9 ± 3.2 ms, P < .001), sympathetic modulation (normal logarithm low-frequency power/high-frequency power 0.59 ± 0.1 vs 0.12 ± 0.04, P < .05), and left ventricular mass (120.7 ± 3.5 g/m2 vs 97.9 ± 2.8 g/m2, P < .001). Probably because it augments sympathetic activity, anxiety causes left ventricular mass to increase and, like hypertension, increases heart rate-corrected Q-T interval dispersion. The consequent electrical instability could be the substrate responsible for inducing fatal ventricular arrhythmias.