[QTc interval and traditional risk factors to atherosclerotic disease in patients with type 1 diabetes].

To evaluate the QTc interval and its relation with clinical, laboratorial variables and LDL susceptibility to in vitro oxidation in patients with type 1 DM, we studied 40 diabetics and 33 non diabetics with 24.83 +/- 10.21 and 23.51 +/- 7.28 years old, respectively matched by sex, age and body mass index (BMI). We evaluated metabolic control, A and B apolipoproteins, LDL oxidation coefficient for spectrophotometry and electrocardiogram (ECG). Interval QTc was calculated by the Bazetts formula. There was no difference in QTc between diabetic and non diabetic groups (394.43 +/- 19.98 ms versus 401.31 +/- 17.83 ms; p = 0.2065). Five diabetics showed increased QTc (396.76 +/- 14.63 ms versus 429.75 +/- 1.89 ms; p < 0.001) and lesser A apolipoprotein levels than rest of diabetic group (74.60 +/- 25.42 mg/dL versus 113.64 +/- 29.79 mg/dL; p = 0,011). In pooled sample, there was correlation between QTc and BMI (rho = -0.288; p = 0.045), pot-prandial glycemia (rho = 0.357; p = 0.016) and 3 h oxidation coefficient (OxC3h) (r = -0.293; p = 0.039). In diabetics, there was correlation between QTc and triglycerides (rho = -0.420; p = 0.023) and OxC3h (r = -0.427; p = 0.021). Although there was no difference between QTc of diabetics and the non diabetics subjects studied, there was correlation with risk factors for the atherosclerotic disease. Further studies are necessary to establish the real predictive value of QTc for this type of disease in the patients with type 1 DM.