An evaluation of P wave dispersion, QT, corrected QT and corrected QT dispersion intervals on the electrocardiograms of malnourished adults.

The aim of our study was to investigate P wave dispersion (Pwd), QT corrected QT (QTc), QT dispersion (QTd) and corrected QT dispersion (QTcd) intervals in subjects with malnutrition diagnosed in the pre-anaesthetic assessment, compared to those without malnutrition. A total of 76 adult patients were included. Main diagnoses, anthropometric measurement, body mass index, electrocardiogram and serum sodium, potassium, chloride, magnesium and calcium levels were recorded for all patients. Pwd, QT and QTd intervals were measured on all electrocardiogram records and QTc and QTcd intervals determined with the Bazett formula. Protein-energy malnutrition was diagnosed with the nutritional risk index. No statistically significant difference was found between the age, gender and malignant cancer diagnosis rates between patients with malnutrition (group M) and those not suffering from malnutrition (group N) (P > 0.05). Serum albumin, total protein, potassium, calcium, magnesium and chloride values of group M were found to be significantly lower than group N (P < 0.05). In group M, Pwd, QT, QTc, QTd and QTcd intervals were significantly longer than in group N (P < 0.001). Patients diagnosed with malnutrition during pre-anaesthetic assessment had significantly longer Pwd, QTc and QTcd interval durations than the control group. We attribute such extended Pwd, QTc and QTcd durations in these patients to malnutrition and malnutrition-related electrolyte imbalance.