We found a match
Your institution may have rights to this item. Sign in to continue.
- Title
Increased QT variability in patients with anorexia nervosa-An indicator for increased cardiac mortality?
- Authors
Koschke, Mandy; Boettger, Michael K.; Macholdt, Claudia; Schulz, Steffen; Yeragani, Vikram K.; Voss, Andreas; Bär, Karl‐Jürgen
- Abstract
Objective: Increased mortality in anorexia nervosa is associated with autonomic dysfunction and prolongation of the QT interval. In this study, we examined the relative importance of repolarization abnormalities and vagal modulation of heart rate. In particular, we hypothesized that patients with anorexia nervosa show increased QT interval variability, particularly since this measure has been shown to correlate with serious cardiac arrhythmias. Method: We assessed linear and nonlinear heart rate variability (HRV) parameters as well as measures of QT variability in 20 female patients with anorexia nervosa and 20 controls. In patients, parameters were correlated with serum electrolytes. Results: QT variability was significantly increased in the patient group and correlated negatively with serum potassium concentrations. HRV measures showed a shift of autonomic balance towards vagal predominance. Discussion: The increase in QT variability might at least in part account for the higher risk of cardiac arrhythmias in patients with anorexia nervosa. Once validated in a prospective study design, parameters of QT variability might serve as surrogate markers for arrhythmia risk stratification in anorexia nervosa. Supplementation with potassium might normalize QT variability abnormalities.
- Subjects
ANALYSIS of covariance; ANOREXIA nervosa; ARRHYTHMIA; ATTITUDE testing; ELECTROCARDIOGRAPHY; HEART beat; MULTIVARIATE analysis; STATISTICS; DATA analysis; INTERVIEW schedules; BODY mass index; CASE-control method
- Publication
International Journal of Eating Disorders, 2010, Vol 43, Issue 8, p743
- ISSN
0276-3478
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1002/eat.20765