Heart rhythm : the official journal of the Heart Rhythm Society
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The QT interval measures cardiac repolarization, and prolongation is associated with adverse cardiovascular outcomes and death. The exponential Bazett correction formula overestimates the QT interval during tachycardia. ⋯ Although all correction formulas demonstrated an association between QTc values and cardiovascular events, only the Hodges formula identified one-third of individuals with tachycardia that are at higher risk of all-cause mortality. Furthermore, the Bazett correction formula overestimates the number of patients with a prolonged QT interval and was not associated with mortality. Future work may validate these findings and result in changes to automated algorithms for QT interval assessment.
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Observational Study
Stroke prevention using dabigatran in elderly Chinese patients with atrial fibrillation.
Little is known about the clinical benefit of a non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulant compared with warfarin in elderly Chinese patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). ⋯ In elderly Chinese patients with AF, this study suggested that dabigatran achieved superior stroke risk reduction and similar risk of ICH compared with warfarin with TTR ≥55%. Dabigatran may be preferable to warfarin in elderly patients with AF for stroke prevention, particularly in those with poor TTR.