The effect of low iron storage without Anaemia on electrocardiography

Abstract

Background: Low iron storage is a common health problem around the world. Although the association of low iron storage with cardiovascular events and various electrocardiographic parameters has been investigated, its association with fragmented QRS (fQRS), T_peak-T_end (Tp-e) interval, Tp-e/QT and Tp-e/QTc ratios, which are important criteria for repolarization, has not been studied in adults.

Methods: A total of 201 female patients in the 18-50 age group with no history of chronic and cardiac disease or anaemia were included in the study. Patients were divided into 3 groups based on their ferritin levels. Twelve lead EKGs were obtained from each patient, and fQRS, Tp-e interval, Tp-e/QT and Tp-e/QTc ratios were calculated manually.

Results: A total of 201 female patients with an average age of 37 ± 9 were included in the study. Group 1 (ferritin<15 ng/mL) consisted of 79 (39.3%) patients, Group 2 (ferritin 15-30 ng/mL) consisted of 64 patients (31.8%) and Group 3 (ferritin≥30 ng/mL) consisted of 58 (28.9%) patients. Tp-e interval was significantly higher in Group 1 compared to Group 2 and 3 (p < 0.001). A similar relationship was also observed between Tp-e/QT, Tp-e/QTc and fQRS (p < 0.001). A moderate, negative relationship was found in the correlation analysis of Tp-e, Tp-e/QT, Tp-e/QTc and fQRS with ferritin value [r = -0.519 (p = 0.001), r = -0.485 (p = 0.001), r = -0.540 (p = 0.001) and r = -0.345 (p = 0.001), respectively].

Conclusion: As a result of the study, it was found that low iron storage may increase arrhythmogenic susceptibility through increased fragmented QRS presence, increased Tp-e interval, Tp-e/QT and Tp-e/QTc ratios in healthy women of childbearing age.

Keywords: Low iron storage; Tp-e interval; Ventricular repolarization.