QT variability in patients with acute decompensated chronic heart failure

Various abnormalities in myocardial repolarization and QTc prolongation are associated with the risk of ventricular arrhythmia. Previous studies have shown that increased temporal variability of repolarization, reflected by QT interval variability, predicted spontaneous ventricular arrhythmias. QT variability index is a non-invasive marker for sudden cardiac death. Twenty-four-hour Holter recordings from 80 subjects with аcute decompensated chronic heart failure were double analyzed during hospitalization (at admission and before discharge) using automatic algorithm to measure QT and heart rate. It was established that аcute decompensated chronic heart failure is accompanied by QT and QTc prolongation. QT variability index correlated with index of left ventricular mass, pulse pressure, pulmonary artery pressure, ascites and was significantly increased at clinical improvement. Predictive value of QT variability index for 24 hours should be tested in next trials.