Daytime QT by Routine 12-Lead ECG Is Prolonged in Patients with Severe Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Abstract

Background. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) has been linked to sudden cardiac death (SCD). Prolonged QT is a recognized electrocardiographic (ECG) marker of abnormal ventricular repolarization linked to increased risk of SCD. We hypothesized that individuals with OSA have more pronounced abnormality in daytime QT interval. Methods. We reviewed consecutive patients who underwent clinically indicated polysomnography with 12-lead ECG within 1 year at a single center. Heart rate-corrected QT interval (QTc) was compared by OSA severity class (normal/mild: apnea‐hypopnea index AHI30 (n=105)) adjusting for body mass index, age, sex, hypertension, and heart failure. Further evaluation was performed by dividing patients into severe (AHI>30) and nonsevere (450/>470 ms for men/women, respectively). Results. A total of 249 patients were included. QTc was similar between the normal/mild and moderate groups, and the overall QTc trend increased across OSA (normal/mild: 435.6 ms; moderate: 431.36; severe: 444.4; p trend=0.03). Abnormal QTc was found amongst 34% of male and 31% of female patients. Patients with severe OSA had longer QTc compared with normal/mild OSA (mean difference (95% CI): 10.0 ms (0.5, 19.0), p=0.04). When stratified dichotomously (as opposed to three groups), patients with severe OSA again had longer QTc (vs. nonsevere OSA) (444.4 ms vs. 433.48 ms, p=0.004). Severe OSA was also associated with abnormal QTc (OR (95% CI): 2.68 (1.34, 5.48), p=0.006). Conclusions. In a sleep clinic cohort, severe OSA was associated with higher QTc and clinically defined abnormal QTc compared with nonsevere OSA.