CLINICAL CORRELATES OF QT PARAMETERS IN ADULTS WITH SICKLE CELL ANAEMIA IN LASUTH

Abstract

ABSTRACT

Background: On electrocardiogram, QT prolongation and increase QT dispersion have been proposed as electrocardiographic parameters that may predict increased risk of malignant arrhythmias which can lead to death. We aimed to determine the prevalence of QT prolongation and dispersion in stable patients with Sickle cell anaemia (SCA) and find the correlates in these individuals.

Methods: Fifty patients with Sickle Cell Anaemia in stable state were studied as well as fifty healthy controls were recruited. All had clinical evaluation, resting 12 lead electrocardiography. The differences between groups were assessed with Chi square and independent sample T test. Pearson correlation coefficient was used to assess relationship between variables. Level of significance was set at p value<0.05.

Results: The mean age of the subjects with SCA and controls was 27±8.87 and 27.2±6.00 years respectively. The frequency of increased QT dispersion and prolonged heart-rate corrected QT interval (QTc) interval was 4% and 8% respectively. The mean QTc interval in SCA subjects (420±28.37ms) was significantly longer compared with controls 381.72±29.06ms (p<0.001). Similarly, mean QT dispersion in SCA subjects was significantly longer compared with controls 42.16±21.74ms vs 24.75±10.56ms) (p<0.001). There is a positive linear non-significant relationship between QT dispersion (QTcd) and haemoglobin concentration in SCA patients. (r=0.06, p =0.66). There was also a positive non-significant relationship between frequency of crisis in SCA patients and QT parameters for QTc and QTd respectively (p=0.54, 0.92).

Conclusion: QTc and QT dispersion are prolonged in patients with sickle cell anaemia.