Moderately prolonged QTc on computer-assessed ECGs is a frequent but often overlooked condition among medical patients, representing a potentially significant risk factor.
What is the clinical importance of moderately prolonged QTc detected by computer-assessed ECGs in medical patients?
Moderately prolonged QTc on computer-assessed ECGs is a frequent but often overlooked finding that carries significant risk for congenital and acquired QT prolongation.
Most ECGs in European hospitals are recorded with equipment giving computer measured intervals and interpretation of the recording. In addition to measurements of interval and QRS axis, this interpretation frequently provides the Bazett’s-corrected QTc time. The introduction of computer-corrected QTc revealed QTc prolongation to be a frequent condition among medical patients. Nevertheless, the finding is frequently overlooked by the treating physician. The authors combine experience from a local hospital with a review of the current literature in this field in order to elucidate the importance of this risk factor both as congenital long QT syndrome and as acquired QT prolongation.
Hysing et al. (Thu,) conducted a review in QTc prolongation. Moderately prolonged QTc was evaluated. Moderately prolonged QTc on computer-assessed ECGs is a frequent but often overlooked condition among medical patients, representing a potentially significant risk factor.