Prolongation of the QTc interval is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases: The Hoorn study

Background/objective: Prolonged heart rate-corrected QT interval (QTc) on the electrocardiogram (ECG) is maybe associated with the occurrence of cardiovascular diseases (CVD), but the evidence is inconsistent. Therefore, we investigated whether baseline prolongation of the QTc interval is associated with CVD morbidity and mortality and its subtypes and whether glucose tolerance modifies this association in a population-based cohort study with a mean follow-up of 10.8 years. Methods: We analyzed a glucose tolerance stratified sample (N = 487) from the longitudinal population-based Hoorn Study cohort (age 64 ± 7 years, 48% female). Cox regression was used to investigate the association between sex-specific baseline QTc quartiles and CVD morbidity and mortality. The risk was also estimated per 10 ms increase in QTc. All analyses were adjusted for age, sex, smoking status, systolic blood pressure, prevalent CVD, glucose tolerance status, hypertension and total cholesterol. In addition, stratified analyses were conducted for glucose tolerance status. Results: During a mean follow-up of 10.8 years, 351 CVD events were observed. The adjusted hazard ratios (95% CI) for each 10 ms increase in QTc interval were 1.06 (95% CI: 1.02–1.10) for CVD, 1.06 (95% CI: 0.97–1.15) for acute myocardial infarction, 1.07 (95% CI: 1.01–1.13) for stroke, 1.12 (95% CI: 1.06–1.19) for heart failure, 1.04 (95% CI: 0.96–1.12) for peripheral arterial disease and 1.01 (95% CI:0.95–1.08) for coronary heart disease. Glucose tolerance status did not modify the association (P > 0.2). Conclusion/interpretation: Prolongation of the QTc interval is associated with morbidity and mortality due to general CVD. Glucose tolerance status did not modify these associations.