QT dispersion on ECG in acute ischemic stroke and its impact on early prognosis

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of corrected QT dispersion (QTcd) on patients’ prognosis with early stage non-lacunar ischemic stroke, regardless of location of the lesion.

METHODS: In this non-randomized prospective study, stroke patients were evaluated in the intensive care unit of Cukurova University Hospital, School of Medicine, Adana, Turkey, from 2002-2003. Neurologic symptoms of all subjects were recorded according to Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) and Canadian Neurological Scale. Subtypes of stroke were defined according to the Oxfordshire Community Stroke Project classification. Patients with GCS between 7 and 11 were included in the study. Electrocardiograms of the patients were collected in the first 6 hours. Corrected QT (QTc) were calculated by the Bazzett formula. Corrected QT dispersion was defined as maximum minus minimum QT interval.

RESULTS: A total of 148 (74 male) consecutive acute stroke patients, aged between 36-90 years (mean 63.07 +/- 12.55), were divided into 2 groups. Group I consisted of surviving patients (n=109) and Group II consisted of expired patients (n=39). There were no statistically significant differences in the mean age, gender distribution, frequency of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and coronary artery disease between the groups. Group II (7.4 +/- 3.7) had significantly higher QTcd (7.4 +/- 3.7) compared to Group I (p=0.002).

CONCLUSION: This study shows the value of QTcd in predicting patients’ prognoses with early stage non-lacunar ischemic stroke, regardless of location of the lesion.