• Zhang Hong-liang, Luo Qin, Liu Zhi-hong, Zhao Zhi-hui, Xiong Chang-ming, Ni Xin-hai, He Jian-guo, Wei Ying-jie, and Zhang Shu.
• Fuwai Hospital & Cardiovascular Institute, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China.
• Wien. Klin. Wochenschr. 2009 Jan 1; 121 (9-10): 330-3.

ObjectiveHeart rate-corrected QT interval (QTc) and QTc dispersion (QTcd) are increased and associated with ventricular arrhythmia and an increase in sudden death in a variety of diseases. This study aimed to examine QTc and QTcd in pulmonary hypertension and assess their relationship with pulmonary arterial pressure.Patients And MethodsA total of 201 patients who had undergone right heart catheterization for a preliminary diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension between December 2003 and July 2008 were included in the study. Resting 12-lead electrocardiogram was recorded. QT interval was measured manually and corrected using Bazett's formula. Patients were divided into groups with mild-to-moderate and severe pulmonary hypertension and a control group according to mean pulmonary arterial pressure.ResultsIn all observed cases, mean QTc was higher in severe pulmonary hypertension than in controls (428.6 +/- 32.8 ms vs. 411.1 +/- 28.4 ms, P = 0.018) and QTcd was higher in mild-to-moderate (60.1 +/- 17.2 ms) and severe pulmonary hypertension (63.9 +/- 20.5 ms) than in controls (47.3 +/- 10.6 ms) (P = 0.031; P = 0.004). In men, there was no significant difference in mean QTc and QTcd. In women, mean QTc was higher in severe pulmonary hypertension than in controls (436.1 +/- 39.4 ms vs. 407.6 +/- 24.8 ms, P = 0.037) and QTcd was higher in severe pulmonary hypertension (68.5 +/- 20.9 ms) than in both the controls (45.1 +/- 12.6 ms) and patients with mild-to-moderate pulmonary hypertension (58.6 +/- 14.7 ms) (P = 0.002; P = 0.003). In addition, in women with pulmonary hypertension, mean QTc and QTcd were positively correlated to mean pulmonary arterial pressure (r = 0.207, P = 0.03; r = 0.236, P = 0.012).ConclusionsIn women with pulmonary hypertension, mean QTc and QTcd are positively correlated to mean pulmonary arterial pressure and are significantly increased in patients with severe pulmonary hypertension.

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