Arterial Stiffness Is Associated With QTc Interval Prolongation in Patients With Heart Failure

Background:A prolonged corrected QT (QTc) interval is a known risk factor for adverse cardiac events. Understanding the determinants and physiologic correlates of QTc is necessary for selecting proper strategies to reduce the risk of adverse events in high-risk patients. We sought to evaluate the role of arterial stiffness in heart failure as a determinant of QTc prolongation.Method:This was an observational study that recruited ambulatory heart failure patients (New York Heart Association Classes I–II) from an outpatient heart failure clinic. In the supine resting position, consented patients underwent noninvasive 12-lead electrocardiograph (ECG) and hemodynamic monitoring using BioZ Dx impedance cardiography. ECGs were evaluated by a reviewer blinded to clinical data, and QTc interval was automatically computed. Patients with pacing or bundle branch block (BBB) were analyzed separately. Strengths of associations were evaluated using Pearson’s r coefficients and multivariate linear regression.Results:The...