[QT dispersion and left ventricular geometry in hypertensive patients]

It has been shown that increased QT dispersion (QTd) reflects electrical inhomogeneity of the myocardium and is associated with high incidence of ventricular arrhythmias. In some cases increased QTd has also been found in some hypertensive patients with left ventricular hypertrophy. The aim of the study was to investigate the relation between QTd and left ventricular (LV) geometry in hypertensive patients (pts). Studied group consisted of 80 pts aged 52.5 +/- 12.6 yrs with mild, moderate and severe hypertension. Nineteen healthy subjects aged 50.5 +/- 9.6 yrs served as control group. QTd was calculated as a difference between the longest QT and shortest QT from the 12-leads of the standard electrocardiogram. Each subject underwent echocardiographic study to determine the pattern of LV geometry divided into: normal (NG), concentric remodeling (CR), excentric hypertrophy (EH) and concentric hypertrophy (CH). Significantly higher QTd was found out in pts with CH and EH as compared to CG (respectively 61 +/- 10 ms, 69 +/- 15 ms vs 46 +/- 14 ms, p < 0.01). Moreover, pts with CH had higher QTd than NG (69 +/- 15 ms vs 55 +/- 15 ms, p < 0.01).

QTd is related to the pattern of LV geometry. As compared to healthy subjects it is increased in hypertensive pts with concentric and eccentric hypertrophy. In pts with CH QTd is significantly greater than in hypertensive pts with normal geometry.