Electrocardiography indices in healthy metabolic syndrome patients: Markers for future cardiovascular risk

Background: Metabolic syndrome is a constellation of cardiovascular risk factors characterized by insulin resistance, prothrombotic and pro-inflammatory state. This study was an attempt to evaluate ECG changes as markers for metabolic syndrome before development of overt cardiovascular disease. Aims: We evaluated association between metabolic syndrome and ECG indices: QT dispersion, QTc dispersion, TpTe interval and TpTe/QT ratio. Settings and Design: Cross-sectional study Methods and Material: The study was conducted on 108 patients with metabolic syndrome and compared with age and sex matched 50 controls. Indices were measured from 12 lead ECG and data was compared. Statistical analysis used: SPSS Results: Metabolic syndrome was more common in females with most common criteria present being waist circumference followed by hypertriglyceridemia Metabolic syndrome group had higher levels of BMI, waist circumference, fat percentage, serum triglycerides and fasting glucose, systolic and diastolic pressure as well as lower HDL levels than control subjects. The QTc dispersion, QT dispersion, TpTe intervals and TpTe/QT ratio were significantly increased in Metabolic syndrome group compared to the control group. Increased Odd's ratio of the ECG parameters in comparison with the control group was also calculated. ROC curve revealed that QTc dispersion and TpTe/ QT ratio were better predictors for future metabolic syndrome. Conclusions: Hence ECG indices (QT dispersion, QTc dispersion, TpTe interval and TpTe/ QT ratio) can be used to predict cardiovascular risk in such patients.