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Cardiovascular disease in chinese type 2 diabetic women is associated with a prolonged QTc interval
G T Ko1, J C Chan, J A Critchley
1Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, The Prince of Wales Hospital, N.T., Shatin, Hong Kong. gtc_ko@hotmail.com
Insights
In Chinese type 2 diabetic women, a prolonged QT interval is linked to increased cardiovascular disease risk. Age, systolic blood pressure, and female gender independently correlate with this QT interval measurement.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Diabetology
- Clinical Research
Background:
- Type 2 diabetes is a growing global health concern.
- Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a major complication of diabetes.
- QT interval prolongation is a potential indicator of cardiac risk.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between QT interval and cardiovascular disease in Chinese type 2 diabetic patients.
- To identify factors associated with QT interval prolongation in this population.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study of 192 Chinese type 2 diabetic patients (132 women, 60 men).
- Electrocardiographic assessment of QTc interval.
- Statistical analysis including multiple regression to identify independent predictors of QTc interval.
Main Results:
- Women had significantly longer QTc intervals than men.
- Prolonged QTc interval was associated with a 2.8-fold higher rate of cardiovascular disease in women.
- Systolic blood pressure, age, and female gender were independently associated with QTc interval.
Conclusions:
- A prolonged QTc interval is significantly associated with cardiovascular disease in Chinese type 2 diabetic women.
- Age, systolic blood pressure, and female gender are independent predictors of QTc interval in this cohort.
Abstract:
We studied the relationships between QT interval and cardiovascular disease status in 192 Chinese type 2 diabetic patients. Of these 192 subjects, 132 (68.8%) were women and 60 (31.2%) were men. The mean age (+/-S.D.) was 56.6+/-12.9 years (range: 23-84, median: 58.0 years). Women had longer QTc interval compared to men (0.402+/-0.030 s vs. 0.387+/-0.026 s, P<0.01). Of the 192 subjects, 18 women and two men had prolonged QTc interval (QTc >0.433 s). Women with prolonged QTc interval have a 2.8-fold greater rate of cardiovascular disease as compared to those with normal QTc interval (38.9% vs. 14.0%, P<0.05). Using multiple regression analysis (stepwise) to assess the relationship with QTc interval with age, sex, body mass index, waist-hip ratio, blood pressure, fasting plasma glucose, glycated haemoglobin, lipid profiles, smoking and duration of diabetes as independent variables (R(2)=0.146, F=8.88, P<0.001), systolic blood pressure (beta=0.198, P=0.017), age (beta=0. 189, P=0.023) and female gender (beta=0.157, P=0.037) were found to be independently associated with QTc interval. In conclusion, we have shown a significant association between prolonged QTc interval, ischaemic heart disease and cardiovascular disease in Chinese type 2 diabetic women. Age, systolic blood pressure and female gender are independently correlated to QTc interval.