EFFECT OF SEVERITY OF ISCHEMIA ON QT DISPERSION IN PATIENTS WITH CORONARY ARTERY DISEASE

Abstract

Background: Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the most prevalent cause of death due to myocardial ischemia. QT dispersion is a marker of increased risk for myocardial ischemia events. The objective of this study was to find out the effect of severity of ischemia on ventricular repolarization heterogeneity by measuring and comparing QT dispersion in single, double and triple coronary artery disease patients. Methods: This cross-sectional comparative study was conducted in the Department of Physiology, Army Medical College (AMC) in collaboration with Electrophysiology Department, Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology (AFIC). Forty patients aged 55±8 Yrs with CAD were included in the study. Holter monitors were used to attain ECG recordings digitally with ten electrodes. For exploration of digital QT dispersion data CardioScan Luxury version was used. Results: Out of 40 patients 18 (45%) had single, 16 (40%) double, and 6 (15%) had triple vessel disease. A significant difference was noted on comparison across mean values of QT dispersion in three groups with single, double and triple vessels coronary artery disease (p=0.01). There was also a remarkable difference of QT dispersion between single and triple vessel disease patients (p=0.007). Conclusion: Ventricular repolarization heterogeneity increases with the ischemia. Patients with triple vessel disease are more prone to risk of developing life threatening arrhythmias.

Pak J Physiol 2022;18(4):11-3