Cheng-Ching Wu1,2,3, Yung-Chuan Lu4,5, Teng-Hung Yu2, Chao-Ping Wang2,5, Wei-Chin Hung2, Wei-Hua Tang6, I-Ting Tsai7, Fu-Mei Chung2, Yau-Jiunn Lee8, Jin-Jia Hu1. 1. Department of Biomedical Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan. 2. Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, E-Da Hospital, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan. 3. Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, E-Da Cancer Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan. 4. Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, E-Da Hospital, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan. 5. School of Medicine for International Students, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan. 6. Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, National Yang-Ming University Hospital, Yilan, Taiwan. 7. Department of Emergency, E-Da Hospital, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan. 8. Lee's Endocrinologic Clinic, Pingtung, Taiwan.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Lower concentrations of serum albumin appear to be associated with an increased risk of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality, coronary heart disease, heart failure and stroke. However, little is known about the relationship between serum albumin level and prolonged QT interval. AIM: To investigate whether lower serum albumin is associated with prolonged QT interval by recording 12-lead electrocardiography in patients with coronary artery disease and chronic kidney disease. METHODS: This study included 1383 consecutive patients with coronary artery disease and chronic kidney disease (841 with acute coronary syndrome and 542 with elective percutaneous coronary intervention patients) who were enrolled in a disease management programme. Twelve-lead electrocardiography was recorded in each subject. We assessed the relationship between albumin levels (both as a continuous variable and stratified by tertile) at admission and corrected QT (QTc) prolongation. RESULTS: Patients with abnormal QTc interval had lower serum albumin levels than those with normal and borderline QTc intervals. Statistically significant negative associations were observed between serum albumin levels and QTc interval (β = -0.211, P < 0.0001). Using multivariate and trend analyses, a lower concentration of serum albumin was independently associated with QTc prolongation in both the patients with acute coronary syndrome and elective percutaneous coronary intervention patients. CONCLUSION: Concentrations of serum albumin were significantly lower in the patients with an abnormal QTc interval and were associated with QTc prolongation. Further studies are needed to clarify whether lower serum albumin plays a role in the pathogenesis of QTc prolongation.
BACKGROUND: Lower concentrations of serum albumin appear to be associated with an increased risk of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality, coronary heart disease, heart failure and stroke. However, little is known about the relationship between serum albumin level and prolonged QT interval. AIM: To investigate whether lower serum albumin is associated with prolonged QT interval by recording 12-lead electrocardiography in patients with coronary artery disease and chronic kidney disease. METHODS: This study included 1383 consecutive patients with coronary artery disease and chronic kidney disease (841 with acute coronary syndrome and 542 with elective percutaneous coronary intervention patients) who were enrolled in a disease management programme. Twelve-lead electrocardiography was recorded in each subject. We assessed the relationship between albumin levels (both as a continuous variable and stratified by tertile) at admission and corrected QT (QTc) prolongation. RESULTS:Patients with abnormal QTc interval had lower serum albumin levels than those with normal and borderline QTc intervals. Statistically significant negative associations were observed between serum albumin levels and QTc interval (β = -0.211, P < 0.0001). Using multivariate and trend analyses, a lower concentration of serum albumin was independently associated with QTc prolongation in both the patients with acute coronary syndrome and elective percutaneous coronary intervention patients. CONCLUSION: Concentrations of serum albumin were significantly lower in the patients with an abnormal QTc interval and were associated with QTc prolongation. Further studies are needed to clarify whether lower serum albumin plays a role in the pathogenesis of QTc prolongation.