Abstract
Objective: The peak and end interval of the T wave (Tp-e), the Tp-e/QT ratio and the Tp-e/QTc ratio are new indices of ventricular repolarization and have been associated with ventricular arrhythmias. It is known that the presence of both hypertension and left ventricular hypertrophy is a risk factor for the development of ventricular arrhythmia and sudden cardiac death. In this study, we aimed to determine the effect of the presence of left ventricular hypertrophy on Tp-e interval, Tp-e/QT ratio and Tp-e/QTc ratio in patients with hypertension.
Material and Methods: Three hundred and forty-six newly diagnosed hypertension patients were included in the study. Hypertension patients were divided into two groups according to the presence of echocardiographic left ventricular hypertrophy. Then, 175 age and gender adjusted patients were determined as a control group. Tp-e interval, Tp-e/QT and Tp-e/QTc ratios, QT and QTc values of all patients were measured by 12-lead electrocardiography and compared between the groups.
Results: There was no statistically significant difference in baseline characteristics among three groups. Tp-e interval, Tp-e/QT and Tp-e/QTc ratio were found to be longer in the hypertension group with left ventricular hypertrophy compared to both the control group and the group without left ventricular hypertrophy. Similarly, we observed that the QT and QTc values which are known as conventional parameters of ventricular repolarization were longer in the left ventricular hypertrophy group compared to the other two groups.
Conclusion: Our study revealed that the presence of left ventricular hypertrophy in hypertension patients increased the Tp-e interval, Tp-e/QT and Tp-e/QTc ratios. Our results show that the presence of left ventricular hypertrophy in patients with hypertension is one of the main risk factors for the development of arrhythmia.