QT interval

The most commonly used QT correction formula is the Bazett's formula,[5] named after physiologist Henry Cuthbert Bazett (1885-1950),[6] calculating the heart rate-corrected QT interval (QTcB).

Bazett's formula is based on observations from a study in 1920. Bazett's formula is often given in a form that returns QTc in dimensionally suspect units, square root of seconds. The mathematically correct form of Bazett's formula is:

${\displaystyle QTc_{B}={QT \over {\sqrt {RR \over (1s)}}}}$

where QTc_B is the QT interval corrected for heart rate, and RR is the interval from the onset of one QRS complex to the onset of the next QRS complex. This mathematically correct formula returns the QTc in the same units as QT, generally milliseconds.[7]

In some popular forms of this formula, it is assumed that QT is measured in milliseconds and that RR is measured in seconds, often derived from the heart rate (HR) as 60/HR. Therefore the result will be given in seconds per square root of milliseconds.[8] However, reporting QTc using this formula creates a "requirement regarding the units in which the original QT and RR are measured."[7]

In either form, Bazett's non-linear QT correction formula is generally not considered accurate, as it over-corrects at high heart rates and under-corrects at low heart rates.[9] Bazett's correction formula is one of the most suitable QT correction formulae for neonates.[10]

Fridericia[11] had proposed an alternative correction formula using the cube-root of RR.

${\displaystyle QTc_{F}={QT \over {\sqrt[{3}]{RR \over (1s)}}}}$

The Framingham correction, also called as Sagie's formula based on the Framingham Heart Study, which used long-term cohort data of over 5,000 subjects, is considered a better[12] method.[13]

${\displaystyle QTlc=1000({QT/1000+0.154(1-RR)})}$

Again, here QT and QTlc are in milliseconds and RR is measured in seconds.

A recent retrospective study suggests that Fridericia's method and the Framingham method may produce results most useful for stratifying the 30-day and 1-year risks of mortality.[12]

Upper limit of normal QT interval, corrected for heart rate according to Bazett's formula,[5] Fridericia's formula,[11] and subtracting 0.02 s from QT for every 10 bpm increase in heart rate.[14] Up to 0.42 s (≤420 ms) is chosen as normal QTc of QT_B and QT_F in this diagram.[15]

Definitions of normal QTc vary from being equal to or less than 0.40 s (≤400 ms),[14] 0.41s (≤410ms),[16] 0.42s (≤420ms)[15] or 0.44s (≤440ms).[17] For risk of sudden cardiac death, "borderline QTc" in males is 431–450 ms; and, in females, 451–470 ms. An "abnormal" QTc in males is a QTc above 450 ms; and, in females, above 470 ms.[18]

If there is not a very high or low heart rate, the upper limits of QT can roughly be estimated by taking QT=QTc at a heart rate of 60 beats per minute (bpm), and subtracting 0.02s from QT for every 10 bpm increase in heart rate. For example, taking normal QTc ≤ 0.42 s, QT would be expected to be 0.42 s or less at a heart rate of 60 bpm. For a heart rate of 70 bpm, QT would roughly be expected to be equal to or below 0.40 s. Likewise, for 80 bpm, QT would roughly be expected to be equal to or below 0.38 s.[14]

Distribution of QT intervals amongst healthy males and females, and amongst those with congenital long QT syndrome

An abnormally prolonged QT interval could be due to long QT syndrome, whereas an abnormally shortened QT interval could be due to short QT syndrome.

The QTc length is associated with variations in the NOS1AP gene.[22] The autosomal recessive syndrome of Jervell and Lange-Nielsen is characterized by a prolonged QTc interval in conjunction with sensorineural hearing loss.

Prolongation of the QT interval may be due to an adverse drug reaction.[23] Many drugs, such as haloperidol,[24] vemurafenib, ziprasidone, methadone[25] sertindole,[26] and pitolisant[27] can prolong the QT interval. Some antiarrhythmic drugs, like amiodarone or sotalol, work by getting a pharmacological QT prolongation. Also, some second-generation antihistamines, such as astemizole, have this effect. In addition, high blood alcohol concentrations prolong the QT interval.[28] A possible interaction between selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and thiazide diuretics is associated with QT prolongation.[29] Macrolide and fluoroquinolone antibiotics are also suspected to prolong the QT interval. It was discovered recently that azithromycin is associated with an increase in cardiovascular death.[30]

Hypothyroidism, a condition of low function of the thyroid gland, can cause QT prolongation at the electrocardiogram. Acute hypocalcemia causes prolongation of the QT interval, which may lead to ventricular dysrhythmias.

A shortened QT can be associated with hypercalcemia.[31]

Since 2005, the FDA and European regulators have required that nearly all new molecular entities be evaluated in a Thorough QT (TQT) study to determine a drug's effect on the QT interval.[32] The TQT study serves to assess the potential arrhythmia liability of a drug. Traditionally, the QT interval has been evaluated by having an individual human reader measure approximately nine cardiac beats per clinical timepoint. However, a number of recent drug approvals have used a highly automated approach, blending automated software algorithms with expert human readers reviewing a portion of the cardiac beats, to enable the assessment of significantly more beats per timepoint in order to improve precision and reduce cost.[33] As the pharmaceutical industry has gained experience in performing TQT studies, it has also become evident that traditional QT correction formulas such as QTcF, QTcB, and QTcLC may not always be suitable for evaluation of drugs impacting autonomic tone.[34]

Electrocardiography is a safe and noninvasive tool that can be used to identify those with a higher risk of mortality. In the general population, there has been no consistent evidence that prolonged QTc interval in isolation is associated with an increase in mortality from cardiovascular disease.[35] However, several studies have examined prolonged QT interval as a predictor of mortality for diseased subsets of the population.

Rheumatoid arthritis is the most common inflammatory arthritis.[36] Studies have linked rheumatoid arthritis with increased death from cardiovascular disease.[36] In a 2014 study,[19] Panoulas et al. found a 50 ms increase in QTc interval increased the odds of all-cause mortality by 2.17 in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Patients with the highest QTc interval (> 424 ms) had higher mortality than those with a lower QTc interval. The association was lost when calculations were adjusted for C-reactive protein levels. The researchers proposed that inflammation prolonged the QTc interval and created arrhythmias that were associated with higher mortality rates. However, the mechanism by which C-reactive protein is associated with the QTc interval is still not understood.

Compared to the general population, type 1 diabetes may increase the risk of mortality, due largely to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease.[20][37] Almost half of patients with type 1 diabetes have a prolonged QTc interval (> 440 ms).[20] Diabetes with a prolonged QTc interval was associated with a 29% mortality over 10 years in comparison to 19% with a normal QTc interval.[20] Anti-hypertensive drugs increased the QTc interval, but were not an independent predictor of mortality.[20]

QT interval dispersion (QTd) is the maximum QT interval minus the minimum QT interval, and is linked with ventricular repolarization.[38] A QTd over 80 ms is considered abnormally prolonged.[39] Increased QTd is associated with mortality in type 2 diabetes.[39] QTd is a better predictor of cardiovascular death than QTc, which was unassociated with mortality in type 2 diabetes.[39] QTd higher than 80 ms had a relative risk of 1.26 of dying from cardiovascular disease compared to a normal QTd.