New Marker of Brain-Heart Interaction: Tpeak-Tend Interval

Background and Objectives: The interaction between the brain and heart has become more interesting in the last 20 years. The most common cardiac complications after stroke are myocardial infarction, heart failure, arrhythmias, electrocardiographic disturbances, repolarization disorders, and sudden cardiac death. The prolonged Tpeak-Tend interval is an indicator of the electrical heterogeneity of the myocardium (abnormal repolarization) that causes malignant arrhythmias. We aimed to investigate whether the Tpeak-Tend interval, which reflects the heterogeneity of repolarization, is prolonged in stroke and its relationship with short-term mortality. Materials and Methods: Individuals over the age of 18 who presented with hemorrhagic or ischemic stroke were included in the study. Demographic characteristics, laboratory and imaging findings of the patients were recorded. ECGs were obtained at the time of admission to the hospital and 24 h later. Patients were followed for in-hospital mortality. Results: 89 (82.4%) of the patients had ischemic stroke, 19 (17.6%) had hemorrhagic stroke. It was determined that Tp-eV2 and Tp-eV5 at hospital admission were significantly longer than the 24th hour values. A total of 92.01 (16.3) ms at Tp-eV2 admission, 84.1 (16.3) ms after 24 h (p = 0.003), 91.9 (7.3) msTp-eV5 at admission, and 81.6 (17.8) ms (p = 0.000) after 24 h. In multivariate logistic regression analysis of in-hospital mortality, Tp-eV2 (HR: 0.96 (95% CI 0.93-0.99) p = 0.008) was determined as an independent predictor among cardiovascular parameters. Conclusions: Tp-e intervals were prolonged in both leads V2 and V5 in patients with stroke. Prolongation of lead V2 in the Tp-e interval is an independent indicator of short-term mortality among cardiovascular parameters.