Prolonged QTc Interval Is an Electrophysiological Hallmark of Cirrhotic Cardiomyopathy

BACKGROUND: Cirrhotic Cardiomyopathy is a relatively ill-characterized condition, which is often under-diagnosed due to absence of defined diagnostic criteria. ECG showing corrected QT Interval prolongation is the most suitable available option for diagnosis of this condition. OBJECTIVE: To determine the frequency of corrected QT interval prolongation in patients with liver cirrhosis. METHODOLOGY: Patients (n = 166) with confirmed cirrhosis, 30 years or older, presented in the outpatient and emergency department of medicine at Capital Hospital Islamabad between 1 October 2011 and 30 September 2012, were enrolled in this cross-sectional study after taking consent. ECG was done using calibrated ECG machine, and the QT Interval was measured. Corrected QT was calculated using Bazett’s formula and a QTc of more than 0.44 seconds was considered as being prolonged. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 57.05 ± 12.03 years. The corrected QT Interval varied from 337 ms to 560 ms. The mean QTc Interval was 429.92 ms ± 45.11. QTc was prolonged in 41 out of 166 patients (24.7%). Frequency of QTc prolongation was 4.5% in Child Pugh Grade A, 23.2% in Child Pugh Grade B, and 32.0% in Child Pugh Grade C. Association of Child Pugh Scoring with QTc prolongation was determined and found to be statistically significant (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: QTc interval was prolonged in 24.7% of cirrhotic patients in our study. There was a significant increase in frequency with worsening of Child Pugh Grade, thereby indicating an association between QTc prolongation and the severity of cirrhosis.