Korean J Psychopharmacol.  2014 Oct;25(4):200-206. 10.0000/kjp.2014.25.4.200.

QT Interval Abnormalities in Korean Women with Anorexia Nervosa

• Choi JR
• Doh JH
• Choi JS
• Im S
• Kim YR

• KMID: 2287768
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.0000/kjp.2014.25.4.200

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
Anorexia nervosa carries the highest mortality of any psychiatric disorder with largely attributed to a cardiovascular etiology. The aim of this study was to evaluate QT alteration and the factors to influence the QT alteration.
METHODS
We evaluated a hospital cohort of patients with anorexia nervosa (n=78) and age-matched healthy women (n=89). The QT, QT dispersion and U wave were measured from electrocardiograms in both patients and controls, and QT was corrected for heart rate using Bazett's formula. We also gathered the data for serum electrolytes, cholesterol, uric acid, creatinine, thyroid hormone, and bone mineral density.
RESULTS
QT dispersion was significantly greater in patients with anorexia nervosa whereas corrected QT interval did not differ between groups. U wave tended to appear more frequently in patients with anorexia nervosa. QT dispersion was influenced by lowest ever body mass index and serum thyroid hormone.
CONCLUSION
QT dispersion and U wave look to be more reliable index than heart rate-corrected QT, which may reflect arrhythmia potential in patients with anorexia nervosa. Lowest ever body mass index and current metabolic status could be predictive factors to cardiac arrhythmia in anorexia nervosa. Longitudinal follow-up study to evaluate risk as well as protective factors to cardiac mortality is warranted.

Keyword

Anorexia nervosa; QT dispersion; U wave; QTc; QT; Body mass index; Thyroid hormone

MeSH Terms

Anorexia Nervosa*
Arrhythmias, Cardiac
Body Mass Index
Bone Density
Cholesterol
Cohort Studies
Creatinine
Electrocardiography
Electrolytes
Female
Heart
Heart Rate
Humans
Mortality
Thyroid Gland
Uric Acid
Cholesterol
Creatinine
Electrolytes
Uric Acid