The effect of Systolic and diastolic blood pressure on Tp-e interval in patients divided according to World Health Organization classification for body mass index

ABSTRACT

Background: Tp-e interval, Tp-e/QT ratio and Tp-e/QTc ratio are electrocardiographic markers and indices of ventricular arrhythmogenic events. We aimed to investigate ventricular repolarization in normal weight, overweight, obese and morbidly obese individuals by using ECG parameters including the above markers.

Methods: A total of 310 obese patients with various cardiac complaints, who were admitted to our outpatient clinic between May 2020 and January 2021, were prospectively included in the study. Using the World Health Organization (WHO) body mass index (BMI) classification, patients were divided into four groups: normal weight (18.5–24.9 kg/m², n = 48), overweight (25–29.9 kg/m², n = 98), obese (30–39.9 kg/m², n = 119), and morbidly obese (>40 kg/m², n = 45).

Results: The morbidly obese and normal groups were younger in age than the other two groups. The Tp-e interval values for Groups I–IV were 72.1 ± 6.9, 73.1 ± 6.2, 75.7 ± 7.3 and 81.1 ± 6.9, respectively, and significantly different (P < .001). We found that age, BMI, systolic blood pressure (BP) and diastolic BP were independent predictors of a prolonged Tp-e interval.

Conclusions: The principal finding of our study was the gradual increase in Tp-e interval, Tp-e/QT ratio and Tp-e/QTc ratio starting from the overweight stage and these parameters gradually increase in obese and morbidly obese patients. Additionally, systolic and diastolic blood pressure predicted Tp-e interval, Tp-e/QT ratio and Tp-e/QTc ratio.

KEYWORDS:

• Electrocardiogram
• obesity
• Tp-e interval
• Tp-e/QTc ratio
• ventricular repolarization
• blood pressure

Declaration of conflicting interests

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest

Statement of responsibility

The authors had access to all the data used in the current study and have shared the data responsibly. All authors have reviewed and accepted the article. Ethical approval required for the study was obtained from the Süleyman Demirel University Ethics Committee.

Additional information

Funding

This research has not received a grant from any financial institution.