Abstract:

In obese individuals, asymptomatic minimal myocardial dysfunction can be encountered even in the absence of structural of functional cardiac alterations. Novel electrocardiographic (ECG) parameters are used to predict arrhythmias related to this situation. We aimed to evaluate body mass index (BMI) and homeostasis model of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) levels and investigate their relationship with the novel ECG parameters. The study was conducted with 250 individuals in five groups (normoweight, overweight, class I obese, class II obese, and class III obese) each including 50 subjects. The ECGs of the individuals were retrospectively reviewed. Corrected QT (QTc), QTc dispersion (QTcd), Tpeak-Tend (Tp-e) interval, Tp-e dispersion (Tp-ed), and Tp-e/QT and Tp-e/QTc ratios were calculated and their relationship with BMI and HOMA-IR was investigated. ECG parameters indicating ventricular repolarization inhomogeneity were significantly different in overweight individuals compared with the normoweight individuals. Comparing overweight and obese subjects, it was determined that QTc, QTcd and Tp-ed parameters were significantly associated with obesity and showed positive correlations with BMI and HOMA-IR. There was a positive relationship of BMI and HOMA-IR with the novel parameters indicating ventricular repolarization abnormality. Novel and simple ECG parameters including QTc, QTcd, and Tp-ed might be beneficial in monitoring of such patients for critical cardiac events, such as ventricular tachycardia or sudden cardiac death.

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