Prolonged QT interval was associated with an increased risk of total mortality (RR 1.35; 95% CI 1.24-1.46) when comparing the highest with the lowest categories in the general population.
Meta-Analysis
Does a prolonged QT interval increase the risk of mortality in the general population?
Prolonged QT interval is a determinant of mortality in the general population, associated with increased risk of total, cardiovascular, coronary, and sudden cardiac death.
Effect estimate: RR 1.35 (95% CI 1.24-1.46)
BACKGROUND: Extremely abnormal prolongation of the electrocardiographic QT interval is associated with malignant ventricular arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death. However, the implications of variations in QT-interval length within normal limits for mortality in the general population are still unclear. METHODS: We performed a meta-analysis to investigate the relation of QT interval with mortality endpoints. Inverse-variance weighted random-effects models were used to summarize the relative risks across studies. Twenty-three observational studies were included. RESULTS: The pooled relative risk estimates comparing the highest with the lowest categories of QT-interval length were 1.35 (95% confidence interval = 1.24-1.46) for total mortality, 1.51 (1.29-1.78) for cardiovascular mortality, 1.71 (1.36-2.15) for coronary heart disease mortality, and 1.44 (1.01-2.04) for sudden cardiac death. A 50 milliseconds increase in QT interval was associated with a relative risk of 1.20 (1.15-1.26) for total mortality, 1.29 (1.15-1.46) for cardiovascular mortality, 1.49 (1.25-1.76) for coronary heart disease mortality, and 1.24 (0.97-1.60) for sudden cardiac death. CONCLUSIONS: We found consistent associations between prolonged QT interval and increased risk of total, cardiovascular, coronary, and sudden cardiac death. QT-interval length is a determinant of mortality in the general population.
Zhang et al. (Sat,) conducted a meta-analysis in General population. Prolonged QT interval vs. Lowest category of QT-interval length was evaluated on Total mortality (RR 1.35, 95% CI 1.24-1.46). Prolonged QT interval was associated with an increased risk of total mortality (RR 1.35; 95% CI 1.24-1.46) when comparing the highest with the lowest categories in the general population.