Key result
Male gender was significantly associated with a higher risk of QTc interval prolongation (OR 5.6) among psychiatric patients taking psychotropic medications, who had an overall prolongation prevalence of 5.7%.
Why the study?
QT interval prolongation is a growing concern that exposes psychiatric patients to life-threatening arrhythmias such as torsade de pointes, but data on its prevalence, risk factors, and related prescribing patterns were needed.
Population
405 psychiatric patients aged 18 years or more on psychotropic medications for ≥7 days in Pakistan
Comparison
Patients with vs without prolonged QTc interval
Design
Prospective observational study
Authors
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May inform gender-specific ECG vigilance in psychiatric patients on psychotropics; hypothesis-generating and requires prospective confirmation before practice change.
Observational (n=405)
Yes
Odds Ratio: 5.6 (95% CI 1.6–19.8)
Absolute Event Rate: 7.7% vs 2.5%
p-value: p=0.007
QTc interval prolongation is present in 5.7% of psychiatric patients on psychotropic medications, highlighting the need for routine ECG monitoring in this population.
Ali et al. (2020) conducted an observational in Psychiatric diseases (n=405). Male gender vs. Female gender was evaluated on QTc interval prolongation (OR 5.6, 95% CI 1.6-19.8, p=0.007). Male gender was significantly associated with a higher risk of QTc interval prolongation (OR 5.6) among psychiatric patients taking psychotropic medications, who had an overall prolongation prevalence of 5.7%.
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