Circadian variation in QT dispersion determined from a 12-lead Holter recording: a methodological study of an age- and sex-stratified group of healthy subjects

S Hansen, Verner Rasmussen, Klaus Larsen, Christian Torp-Pedersen, Gorm Boje Jensen, Stig Hansen, Christian Torp-Pedersen

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    6 Citationer (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Background: QT dispersion is considered to reflect inhomogeneity of myocardial repolarization. Method: The circadian variation of QT interval dispersion was examined in 95 healthy subjects using 24-hour Holter monitoring. Three different methods of lead selection were applied: all 12 leads (QTdisp 12), only precordial leads (QTdisp 6), and the pair of leads selected at 3 a.m. in which the longest and shortest QT intervals were found in each individual subject (QTdisp 2). Results: A preliminary methodological study including measurements from every minute in 10 subjects revealed no significant circadian variation using mean values of QTdisp 12, QTdisp 6, or QTdisp 2 obtained every hour, every 2, or every 4 hours, except in QTdisp 6, which demonstrated a significant circadian variation (P < 0.01) in 1-hour measurements. Analysis of all 95 subjects using measurements obtained every 4 hours revealed a significant circadian variation in QTdisp 12 and QTdisp 6 (P < 0.0001), whereas no circadian variation was seen in QTdisp 2. A subdivision into 10-year age groups revealed that subjects at age >50 years had a significant circadian variation in QTdisp 12 and QTdisp 6, but not in QTdisp 2. Only in males a significant circadian variation was seen in QTdisp 12 (P < 0.0001), whereas QTdisp 6 demonstrated a circadian variation both in females (P < 0.001) and in males (P < 0.0001). Conclusions: Selection of leads is of crucial importance for repetitive measurements of QT dispersion. Circadian variation was detected in subjects over 50 years of age, when all 12 or only the 6 precordial leads were taken into account.
    OriginalsprogEngelsk
    TidsskriftAnnals of Noninvasive Electrocardiology (Online)
    Vol/bind12
    Udgave nummer3
    Sider (fra-til)185-96
    Antal sider12
    ISSN1542-474X
    DOI
    StatusUdgivet - 2007

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