Prolonged QTc intervals on the electrocardiograms of hospitalized malnourished adults

We investigated whether hospitalized malnourished adults would have longer QTe intervals on their electrocardiograms (ECGs) than non-malnourished adul ts. Seventy-five consecutive adults hospitalized in the Internal Medicine w ards of our teaching hospital were prospectively studied. Main diagnoses, a nthropometry, including body mass index (kg/m(2)), ECGs, and simultaneous s erum levels of sodium, potassium, magnesium, phosphorus, and calcium were r ecorded. All QT intervals on ECGs were measured in a semiautomatic image an alysis system; and QTe intervals were determined with the Eaten formula, pr otein-energy malnutrition (PEM) was diagnosed with body mass index below 18 .5 kg/m(2). There was no statistical difference between malnourished (n = 3 0) and non-malnourished (n = 45) with regard to age (40.7 +/- 18.9 y versus 41.4 +/- 16.2 y), male predominance (66.7% versus 80%), or associated diag noses. Compared with non-malnourished, malnourished patients had higher per centages of positive C-reactive protein (66.7 versus 23.84), lower serum le vels of albumin (2.51 +/- 0.89 g/dL versus 3.41 +/- 0.74 g/dL) and potassiu m (3.64 +/- 0.65 mEq/L versus 4.12 +/- 0.65 mEq/L), and increased QTe lengt hs on ECGs (0.423 +/- 0.033 ms Versus 0.396 +/- 0.031 ms). Malnourished adu lts hospitalized in general clinical wards are more likely to have longer Q Te intervals on their ECGs, a phenomenon possibly linked to malnutrition an d associated electrolyte disturbances.