QT dispersion - Is it an independent risk factor for in-hospital mortalityin patients with intracerebral hemorrhage?

Electrocardiographic repolarization changes, comprising QT prolongation, ar e most commonly seen after intracerebral hemorrhage. In this study in patie nts with intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), QT dispersion and its daily change s were examined and the relation between QT dispersion and in-hospital mort ality assessed. In 28 patients with intracerebral hemorrhage, diagnosed by computerized tom ographic scanning, an ECG was obtained on the day of admission to hospital and then serial ECGs were recorded on the following four consecutive days. Blood electrolytes (K, Ca, Mg) were also analysed. The patients with intrac erebral hemorrhage were followed until discharge or death (mean 14 +/- 4 da ys). QT, QT peak, and QT-QTpeak dispersion were measured on simultaneous tw elve lead electrocardiograms. Also, in 29 healthy subjects as a control gro up, five consecutive day serial electrocardiograms were recorded. There were no statistically significant differences between the study and c ontrol groups in terms of gender and age. During the five days, QT, QT peak , and QT-QTpeak dispersion values were significantly higher in patients wit h intracerebral hemorrhage than in the control subjects (p < 0.001). There were no statistically significant differences in two patient groups with in tracerebral hemorrhage who died and who were discharged in terms of mean QT , QTpeak, and QT-QTpeak dispersion values. In conclusion, QT, QT peak, and QT-QTpeak dispersion values were significan tly greater in patients with intracerebral hemorrhage than in the control s ubjects, but QT, QT peak, and QT-QTpeak dispersions were not independent ri sk factors for in-hospital mortality in patients with intracerebral hemorrh age.