QT interval disturbances in elderly residents of long-term care facilities.

BACKGROUND

The QT interval reflects the total duration of ventricular myocardial repolarization. Disturbed QT--either prolonged or shortened--is associated with arrhythmia and is life-threatening.

OBJECTIVES

To investigate an elderly population for disturbed QT interval.

METHODS

We conducted a cross-sectional study on residents of long-term care wards in a geriatric hospital. Excluded were those with pacemaker, atrial fibrillation or bundle branch block. The standard 12 lead and lead 2 electrocardiograms in the patients' files were used for the evaluation of QT interval.

RESULTS

We screened the ECGs of 178 residents. QTc prolongation based on the mean 12 ECG leads was detected in 48 (28%), while 45 (25%) had prolonged QTc based on lead L2. Factors associated with QT prolongation were male gender, chronic renal failure and diabetes mellitus. Short QT was found in 7 residents (4%) and was not related to any parameter.

CONCLUSIONS

About one-third of the elderly long-term care residents in our study had QT disturbances. Such a considerable number warrants close QT interval follow-up in predisposed patients.