Assessing risk of a prolonged QT interval-a survey of emergency physicians

Chan, A. S. Y., Isbister, G. K., Kirkpatrick, C. M. J. and Duffull, S. B. (2008) Assessing risk of a prolonged QT interval-a survey of emergency physicians. International Journal of Emergency Medicine, 1 1: 35-41.


Author Chan, A. S. Y.
Isbister, G. K.
Kirkpatrick, C. M. J.
Duffull, S. B.
Title Assessing risk of a prolonged QT interval-a survey of emergency physicians
Journal name International Journal of Emergency Medicine  (ERA 2012 Listed)    (ERA 2010 Rank C)   Check publisher's open access policy
Publication date 2008
Sub-type Article
Year available 2008
DOI 10.1007/s12245-008-0014-6
Volume number 1
Issue number 1
ISSN 0736-4679
Start page 35
End page 41
Total pages 7
Editor P. Rosen
Place of publication New York, United States
Publisher Elsevier
Collection year 2009
Language eng
Subject 320503 Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics
730106 Cardiovascular system and diseases
C1
Abstract Background: Although QT prolongation is associated with an increased risk of torsades de pointes (TdP), it is unclear how clinicians determine risk in individual patients with prolonged QT. Aims: To investigate physicians’ interpretation of electrocardiogram (ECG) values in patients with a prolonged QT in reference to risk of TdP. Methods: A survey was sent to Australasian emergency physicians (EPs) to investigate interpretation of ECG data in risk assessment for TdP. The survey contained three sections: demographic information, questions on heart rate correction and six sets of ECG data which the clinician ranked from low to high risk. Risk analysis for ECG values was performed by producing histograms of the distribution of responses for each of the six sets of ECG parameters. These distributions were compared to predicted distributions based on Bazett’s corrected QT > 500 ms and the QT nomogram. The QT nomogram is a recently developed method for assessing whether QT-HR pairs are associated with increased risk of TdP by plotting them to determine if they are above an at risk line—the nomogram. Results: Of 720 surveys sent out, 249 were returned (35%). A heart rate correction was used by 90% of respondents and the median “at risk” QTc judged by EPs was 450 ms [interquartile range (IQR): 440–500 ms]. Respondents were divided as to whether bradycardia increased the risk of TdP, with equal numbers responding “no change” and “more caution”. In four of the six sets of ECG parameters, EPs had a similar risk distribution to that predicted by Bazett. For one point predicted to be high risk by the QT nomogram, there was a uniform (undecided) risk distribution by EPs. Conclusions: EPs mainly relied on Bazett’s correction as their method of TdP risk assessment, which may be problematic for bradycardic patients.
Keyword QT interval
Drug toxicity
Torsades de pointes
Nomogram
Risk assessment
Q-Index Code C1
Q-Index Status Confirmed Code
Institutional Status UQ

Document type: Journal Article
Sub-type: Article
Collections: 2009 Higher Education Research Data Collection
ERA 2012 Admin Only
School of Pharmacy Publications
 
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Created: Thu, 08 Jan 2009, 14:18:48 EST by Elizabeth Pyke on behalf of School of Pharmacy