[Electrocardiographic changes and QT interval modifications in patients with Early Arthritis]

Abstract

Background: The QT interval modification has been described in patients witrthritis (RA) and it could be a useful marker of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.

Aims: To evaluate the QT interval modifications in patients with early arthritis (EA) and its association with disease activity (DA).

Methods: We studied patients with diagnosis of EA attended to Rheumatology Unit at Córdoba Hospital from January 2010 to December 2013. Control group was population age, gender and cardiovascular risk factors matched. Exclusion criteria were: myocardial infarction, arrhythmia, K level >5, or anti-arrhythmia treatment. ECG was performed by standard technique and QT interval was measured from the beginning of QRS to the end of T wave. QTC value was calculated by Bazzet formula. The activity disease was measured by Disease Activity Score (DAS 28), and was considered low disease activity below 3.2, and moderate / high disease activity more than 3,2.

Results: 31 patients were included with 83.9 % of females and the mean age was 41.9 years old and DAS 28 was 5.09. 31 persons were included as a control group with a mean age of 42.2 years old. QT interval was 0.376 mm/s and l QTC 0.408 in EA and QT was 0.381 mm/s and QTC 0.415 mm/s in the control group ( p= NS, p= NS). QT interval and QTC were 0.39 and 0.38 in low DA patients; 0.37 and 0.411 in Moderate / High DA ( p=NS) Conclusions: The QT interval was not modified and it was not related with DA in EA.