The retationship between prolonged QT interval and acute stroke in Tikrit teaching hospital

Abstract

The QT interval is closely related to venticular action potent ial and is a good noninvasive measure of ventricular repolarization and myocardial homogeneity. Prolonged QT intewal has been reported to be associated with higher mortality in stroke patients. The aim of this study is to asses whether QT interval is prolonged in patienS with acute stroke, and whether this prolongation ifpresent is related to the type, location, and size of stroke. The study included 60 patients with acute stroke admitted to Tikrit teaching hospital from July 201 1 to February 2012 and 12leads ECGs were recorded at the time of artmission, to measure the corrected QTc interval (QTc manual and QTc automared). A 30 age matched individuals (control group) were included for comparison. The QTc interval measurement was significantly longer in patients with acute stroke than control group. The QTc interval was significantly higher with big infarct or large hemorrhage than small lesions. There was no significant difference between right and left sided stoke regarding QTc interval values. It was concluded that QT interval was prolonged in acute stroke and this prolongation was related to the size but not the q/pe or location ofstroke.