Clinical Significance of Prolonged QTc Dispersion in Spontaneous Intracerebral Hemorrhage

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: QTc dispersion is a quantitative measure of myocardial repolarization and is a new important prognostic factor for many diseases. We have analyzed the admission ECGs of 53 patients with spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) for QTc dispersion. This study was performed to investigate the value of QTc dispersion as a prognostic factor in ICH patients. METHODS: ECGs done within 24 hours from attack onset were analyzed for abnormalities and QTc. The QTc dispersion is the QT duration of the longest minus the shortest rate-corrected QT interval. We studied the differences in QTc dispersions on the initial ECGs in the ED between a favorable group and an unfavorable group. RESULTS: We found that patients had less chance for a good recovery if they had a lower Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score on admission, a larger volume hematoma, a prolonged QTc dispersion, or a longer maximal QTc interval of the 53 patients with ICH, 16 (30.2%) patients demonstrated ECG abnormalities. The QTc dispersion was extremely prolonged in both groups. The favorable group included patients with a mean QTc dispersion=70.6 ms, whereas the unfavorable group included patients with a QTc dispersion= 117.6 ms. CONCLUSION: A prolonged QTc dispersion and a lower GCS score were significant predictors of a poor prognosis for spontaneous ICH patients. An increased QTc dispersion on the initial ECG is an important prognostic factor for ICH patients. More attention should be given to the disposition and intensive care of such patients.