International Journal of Physiology

  • Year: 2019
  • Volume: 7
  • Issue: 2

A Comparative Study of QTC in Obese, Non-Obese Hypertensive and Obese Normotensive Males

1Assistant Professor, Department of Physiology, Government Medical College, Palakkad, Kerala, India

2Assistant Professor, Department of Biochemistry, Government Medical College, Palakkad, Kerala, India

Online published on 20 July, 2019.

Abstract

QTc (corrected QT interval) is an index of physiological variability of ventricular repolarization. Prolonged QTc has been reported in cardiac failure, arterial hypertension, ischaemic heart disease and in obesity.

This study was aimed at evaluating the effect of hypertension and obesity on QTc. The objective of the study was to compare the QTc in obese, non-obese hypertensive and normotensive obese male subjects.

We compared the QTc in obese-hypertensives (n=15), in nonobese hypertensives (n=15) and in obese-normotensives (n=15), comparable for age and sex. Blood pressure was measured in supine position by mercury sphygmomanometer. Body mass index (BMI), WC (waist circumference) and WHR (waist hip ratio) of all patients were calculated.

QTc was longer in obese hypertensives and obese normotensives compared to nonobese hypertensives(p<0.00). WC and WHR had positive correlation with QTc prolongation in obese hypertensives and obese normotensives.

This study indicates that obesity is an important predictor of QTc prolongation than blood pressure. Waist circumference and WHR which reflects abdominal obesity have greater association with QTc prolongation.

Keywords

Hypertension, QT interval, obesity, Bazett's formula