Prevalence of QTc interval changes in acute psychiatric care: A cross-sectional study

Introduction. In a case series we examined the prevalence and incidence of QT changes during a 1-week interval in hospitalized patients in a general psychiatry ward during a 6-month period. Method. This cross-sectional study was done on electrocardiographic QT interval of patients admitted to the Psychiatric Department of Taleghani Hospital during a 6-month period excluding subjects with underlying cause of QT prolongation. Results. Admission and follow-up electrocardiograms of 27 men and 47 women were studied, there was significant QT prolongation during hospitalization (P value 0.001) in approximately 30% of subjects, irrespective of type of administered medication. Conclusion. Pro-arrhythmic changes as reflected in QTc prolongation and QTc dispersion in electrocardiograms are common in patients admitted in psychiatric wards irrespective of type of therapy and should be screened and followed by serial electrocardiograms to minimize untoward cardiac outcomes.