مرکز منطقه ای اطلاع رساني علوم و فناوري - QTc Interval Prolongation and Stroke: Any Differences between Ischemic and Hemorrhagic Strokes?

Abstract :

Purpose: Strokes results in a multitude of electrocardiographic (ECG) changes, and a prolongation of the QTc interval is a well-observed one. We analyzed QTc interval prolongation among males and females who presented with acute stroke. Material and Methods: This observational study was conducted at the department of neurology of the Sulaimaniya general teaching hospital, from August 2012 to May 2013, and involved 100 consecutive patients who presented with acute stroke; 50 had ischemic stroke and the rest (n=50) had hypertensive intracerebral hemorrhage. All patients underwent resting 12-lead ECG within half an hour of A E admission. The QTc interval was calculated and analyzed. A comparison among males and females in both stroke types was done. Results: The ischemic group had 25 males and 25 females; 25 patients (25%; 13 males and 12 females) demonstrated QTc interval prolongation. Thirty two males and 18 females constituted the hemorrhagic group; QTc interval prolongation was observed in 18 males and 8 females (n=26; 26%). There was no statistically significant difference in the QTc interval prolongation among males of the ischemic stroke versus hemorrhagic group (P-value 0.73), females of the ischemic versus hemorrhagic group (P-value 0.32), and males and females within the ischemic stroke (P-value 0.40). However, a significant difference was noted between males and females within the hemorrhagic group (P-value 0.09; 95% CI, 481.85 to 530.82).Conclusion: Only males and females with hypertensive intracerebral hemorrhage demonstrated a statistically significant difference in QTc prolongation in favor of females. Whether this observation is clinically significant or not, it needs further analytic studies.