QT dispersion in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome

Cardiac risk factors are observed more frequently in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). On the other hand, increased QT dispersion, which is a risk factor for cardiac arrhythmias and sudden death, has not been investigated in this syndrome. In this study, we evaluated QT dispersion in PCOS patients without overt heart disease. Thirty-six consecutive women with PCOS (mean age 24+/-5 years) and 36 healthy women of similar ages (mean age 24+/-4 years) participated in this study. PCOS was diagnosed if there were polycystic ovaries by ultrasound (enlarged ovaries with > or =8 cysts 2-8 mm in diameter), oligoamenorrhea (intermenstrual interval >35 days), hirsutism (Ferriman-Gallwey score, > or =7) and elevated serum levels of testosterone (> or =2.7 nmol/L). Electrocardiograms were recorded at a paper speed of 50 mm/s. QT intervals were manually measured by a cardiologist. All intervals were corrected for heart rate according to Bazett's formula: QTc interval=QT interval/square root of the RR interval. Mean values of body mass index, heart rate, and blood pressure were not significantly different between the two groups (P>0.05). No significant differences in QT intervals (maximum QT, minimum QT, QT dispersion, minimum corrected QT, maximum corrected QT, and corrected QT dispersion) were observed between the two groups (P>0.05). Our results suggest that the risk of ventricular arrhythmias or sudden cardiac death is not increased in PCOS patients.