Assessment Of The Ecg T-Wave In Patients With Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

Background: Prolongation of the interval from the peak to the end of the T wave (Tp-Te) on a 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) is associated with ventricular arrhythmias. The aim of this study was to clarify associations between Tp-Te, Tp-Te/QT, and Tp-Te/rate-corrected QT (QTc) with clinical severity of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) and clinical outcomes. Methods: This retrospective study included 222 patients with acute SAH (group S) and 306 patients with unruptured cerebral aneurysms (group U). Tp-Te, Tp-Te/QT, and Tp-Te/QTc were manually measured in standard 12-lead ECG recordings on admission and comparisons made between patients in groups S and U. The relationships of these ECG parameters with Hunt and Hess grade and Glasgow outcome scale were analyzed using multiple logistic regression analysis after adjustment for confounding factors. Results: Tp-Te, Tp-Te/QT, and Tp-Te/QTc were significantly greater in group S than in group U (group S: 109 +/- 30, 0.26 +/- 0.07, and 0.24 +/- 0.06 ms; group U: 84 +/- 12, 0.22 +/- 0.03, and 0.21 +/- 0.03 ms, respectively; P < 0.0001). In addition, in the multiple logistic regression analyses these variables were positively correlated with the Hunt and Hess grade (Tp-Te odds ratio [95% confidence interval], 2.414 [1.375-4.238], P=0.002; Tp-Te/QT, 1.886 [1.085-3.277], P = 0.024; Tp-Te/QTc, 1.873 [1.07-3.278], P=0.028, and negatively correlated with Glasgow outcome scale Tp-Te odds ratio [95% confidence interval], 4.168 [2.409-7.209], P<0.001; Tp-Te/QT, 2.434 [1.413-4.192], P=0.001; Tp-Te/QTc 2.953 [1.703-5.123], P<0.001). Conclusions: Tp-Te, Tp-Te/QT, and Tp-Te/QTc are associated with disease severity and clinical outcome in patients with SAH.