Prevalence and Risk Factors of QTc Prolongation in Prostate Cancer Patients Undergoing Brachytherapy

QTc prolongation is linked to Torsade de Pointes, sudden cardiac death, and overall cardiovascular mortality. 754 prostate cancer patients undergoing brachytherapy were analyzed, prolonged QTc was defined as ≥450ms. A prolonged QTc was more frequent (10.1 vs. 5.1%, p = 0.040) in patients with high-risk cancer than in low to intermediate risk patients. The absolute QTc-time was correlated with age (r = 0.125), neutrophil count (r = 0.130) and negatively correlated with the testosterone level (r=-0.205). Treating physicians should be aware of this and monitor the QTc during ADT to possibly decrease cardiac morbidity/mortality in these patients who are more likely to require ADT.