CAN HEART RATE AND QTc DURATION BE USED AS A MARKER OF CIRRHOTIC CARDIOMYOPATHY? A CASE CONTROL STUDY

Abstract

Objective: To assess the value of QTc prolongation and heart rate variation as a marker of cirrhotic cardiomyopathy and severity of liver disease.
Methodology: This comparative study was conducted on selected patients with cirrhosis of liver, fulfilling inclusion criteria and were enrolled as group 1. An equal number of non cirrhotic patients were enrolled and included in group 2. QTc and heart rate were calculated and compared between the two groups.
Analysis of QTc prolongation and increase in heart rate with regard to severity of liver disease was also made.
Results: Fifty confirmed cases of cirrhosis of liver were included in group 1 with equal number of age and sex matched non-cirrhotic patients included in group 2 as controls. The mean ±SEM of QTc in group1 and group 2 were 0.4707±0.0065 and 0.3893±0.00542 seconds respectively. The mean ±SEM of heart rate was 90.50±2.839 beats/min and 82.85±2.207 beats/min in group 1 and 2 respectively. The mean of QTc and heart rate in group 1 was significantly higher as compared to group 2 (p=.001 and p=.0179 respectively). The mean of QTc and heart rate in subgroup 1A, 1B and 1C was not statistically significant.

Conclusions: Patients with cirrhosis have a higher mean QTc and heart rate as compared to non cirrhotic adults. Both tests may be useful markers of Cirrhotic Cardiomyopathy.