ELECTROCARDIOGRAPHIC ABNORMALITIES IN PATIENTS WITH HEAT-STROKE

Serial electrocardiograms were taken in 46 Hajj Pilgrims suffering fro m heat stroke immediately after cooling 12 and 24 h later. The collect ed data were analyzed and revealed that a statistically significant nu mber of patients with heat stroke had sinus tachycardia (43 percent, p <0.05), conduction defect (22 percent, p<0.046), prolonged Q-T interva l (61 percent, p<0.007), diffuse nonspecific ST-T changes (26 percent, p<0.036), and ST-T changes (localized to the ECG leads confirming to a territory of coronary artery) consistent with myocardial ischemia (2 1 percent, p<0.02). Although adverse effects of heat stroke on the hea rt are multifactorial, the above data indicate that heat stroke predis poses to certain risk of myocardial ischemia and conduction disturbanc es. This may reflect the true cardiovascular status of these heat stro ke victims.