Lung function, percent emphysema, and QT duration: The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) lung study

Hilary F Armstrong; Gina S Lovasi; Elsayed Z Soliman; Susan R Heckbert; Bruce M Psaty; John H.M Austin; Jerry A Krishnan; Eric A Hoffman; Craig Johnson; Matthew J Budoff; Karol E Watson; R. Graham Barr

doi:10.1016/j.rmed.2016.12.003

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Lung function, percent emphysema, and QT duration: The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) lung study

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Lung function, percent emphysema, and QT duration: The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) lung study

Hilary F Armstrong, Gina S Lovasi, Elsayed Z Soliman, Susan R Heckbert, Bruce M Psaty, John H.M Austin, Jerry A Krishnan, Eric A Hoffman, Craig Johnson, Matthew J Budoff, …

Respiratory medicine, Vol.123, pp.1-7

02/2017

DOI: 10.1016/j.rmed.2016.12.003

PMCID: PMC5302224

PMID: 28137484

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Abstract

The QT interval on electrocardiogram (ECG) reflects ventricular repolarization; a prolonged QT interval is associated with increased mortality risk. Prior studies suggest an association between chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and prolonged QT interval. However, these studies were small and often enrolled hospital-based samples. We tested the hypotheses that lower lung function and increased percent emphysema on computed tomography (CT) are associated with a prolonged QT interval in a general population sample and additionally in those with COPD. As part of the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) Lung Study, we assessed spirometry, full-lung CT scans, and ECGs in participants aged 45–84 years. The QT on ECGs was corrected for heart rate (QTc) using the Framingham formula. QTc values = 460 msec in women and ≥450 msec in men were considered abnormal (prolonged QTC). Multivariate regression models were used to examine the cross-sectional association between pulmonary measures and QTC. The mean age of the sample of 2585 participants was 69 years, and 47% were men. There was an inverse association between FEV1%, FVC%, FEV1/FVC%, emphysema, QTc duration and prolonged QTc. Gender was a significant interaction term, even among never smokers. Having severe COPD was also associated with QTc prolongation. Our analysis revealed a significant association between lower lung function and longer QTc in men but not in women in a population-based sample. Our findings suggest the possibility of gender differences in the risk of QTc-associated arrhythmias in a population-based sample. •Multivariate regression models were used to examine the cross-sectional association between pulmonary measures and QTC.•There was an inverse association between FEV1%, FVC%, FEV1/FVC%, emphysema, QTc duration and prolonged QTc.•Gender was a significant interaction term, even among never smokers. Having severe COPD was also associated with QTc prolongation.•Our analysis revealed a significant association between lower lung function and longer QTc in men but not in women in a population-based sample.•Our findings suggest the possibility of gender differences in the risk of QTc-associated arrhythmias in a population-based sample.

QT interval

Lung function

Emphysema

QT duration

COPD

Details

Title: Subtitle: Lung function, percent emphysema, and QT duration: The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) lung study
Creators: Hilary F Armstrong - Department of Rehabilitation and Regenerative Medicine, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, United States
Gina S Lovasi - Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
Elsayed Z Soliman - Epidemiological Cardiology Research Center (EPICARE), Department of Epidemiology and Prevention, Department of Internal Medicine-Cardiology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, United States
Susan R Heckbert - Department of Epidemiology and Cardiovascular Health Research Unit, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
Bruce M Psaty - Cardiovascular Health Research Unit, Departments of Medicine, Epidemiology and Health Services, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
John H.M Austin - Department of Radiology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, United States
Jerry A Krishnan - Breathe Chicago Center, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
Eric A Hoffman - Department of Radiology, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, United States
Craig Johnson - Collaborative Health Studies Coordinating Center, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
Matthew J Budoff - Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute, Torrance, CA, United States
Karol E Watson - UCLA School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, United States
R. Graham Barr - Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Respiratory medicine, Vol.123, pp.1-7
Publisher: Elsevier Ltd
DOI: 10.1016/j.rmed.2016.12.003
PMID: 28137484
PMCID: PMC5302224
ISSN: 0954-6111
eISSN: 1532-3064
Grant note: DOI: 10.13039/100000002, name: National Institutes of Health, award: HL077612, HL093081, N01-HC-95159, N01-HC-95165, N01-HC-95169; DOI: 10.13039/100006108, name: National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, award: UL1 TR000040
Language: English
Date published: 02/2017
Academic Unit: Roy J. Carver Department of Biomedical Engineering; Radiology; Internal Medicine
Record Identifier: 9984051893402771

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