Characteristics of QT Dispersion during Recovery Phase after Treadmill Exercise in Airlines Pilots

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: QT dispersion (QTD) represents the inhomogeneity of ventricular repolarization and has been suggested to predict ventricular arrhythmia in patients with coronary artery disease. The purpose of this article is to study the characteristics of QTD during recovery phase after maximal treadmill exercise in airlines pilots. METHODS: The study population included 45 healthy airlines pilots. QTpeak D (QTpD) was defined as the difference between maximum and minimum QTp interval measured on 12 lead ECG at single cardiac beat. Paired t test was used between QTpD at rest and QTpD during recovery phase after maximal treadmill exercise. RESULTS: The QTpD at early recovery phase (1 minute) after maxial treadmill exercise was significantly decreased compared to QTpD at rest (22+/-11 msec. vs 27+/-12 msec., P<0.05), but there was no significant difference between QTpD at rest and QTpD at late recovery phases (3 minutes, 5 minutes and 7 minutes). CONCLUSION: This finding suggests that antiarrhythmogenic effect is present at early recovery phase (1 minute) after maxial treadmill exercise in healthy airlines pilots.