Features of ventricular electrical systole in elderly patients with arterial hypertension and comorbid cardiac pathology

Objective: To study the features of ventricular electrical systole parameters (Q-T interval duration and dispersion) in elderly patients with arterial hypertension (AH) and comorbid cardiac pathologies. Materials and Methods: For the study, the cohort of participants was divided into two groups. The first group consisted of 40 healthy young and elderly individuals, 20 in each. The second group included 126 elderly patients (60-74 years old), who were further divided into three subgroups: those with stage II-III hypertension (n=42), those with AH and coronary heart disease (CHD) (n=44), and those with AH and chronic heart failure (CHF) (n=40). Results: In patients with hypertension, the Q-T interval was increased by 1.2 times compared to apparently healthy elderly individuals (470.1 ms versus 388.4 ms). The corrected Q-Tc interval was 1.3 times higher (537.4 ms versus 426.5 ms). In patients with hypertension and coronary artery disease or with hypertension and heart failure, the Q-T interval was increased by 26.2 ms (from 470.1 to 496.3 ms) compared to those with hypertension alone. The corrected Q-Tc interval also increased by 28.8 ms (566.2 ms versus 537.4 ms). In patients with hypertension and CHF, the Q-T interval was statistically significantly longer by 56.3 ms (526.4 vs. 470.1 ms) than in patients with hypertension and coronary artery disease. Analysis of the corrected Q-T interval also showed a significant increase of 70.8 ms in patients with hypertension and CHF (608.2 vs. 537.4 ms). Conclusion: Increased Q-Tc dispersion in elderly patients with hypertension and chronic heart failure indicates myocardial electrical instability. This condition is associated with an increased risk of ventricular arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death.