Prevalence and Risk Factors of QTc Prolongation in Prostate Cancer Patients Undergoing Brachytherapy

Abstract

QTc prolongation is linked to Torsade de Pointes, sudden cardiac death, and overall cardiovascular mortality. 754 prostate cancer patients undergoing brachytherapy were analyzed, prolonged QTc was defined as ≥450ms. A prolonged QTc was more frequent (10.1 vs. 5.1%, p = 0.040) in patients with high-risk cancer than in low to intermediate risk patients. The absolute QTc-time was correlated with age (r = 0.125), neutrophil count (r = 0.130) and negatively correlated with the testosterone level (r=−0.205). Treating physicians should be aware of this and monitor the QTc during ADT to possibly decrease cardiac morbidity/mortality in these patients who are more likely to require ADT.

Keywords:

• Prostate cancer
• QTc prolongation
• brachytherapy
• androgen deprivation therapy

Acknowledgement

We thank Dr Joe-Elie Salem, Sorbonne, Paris, for his advice.

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the article.

Additional information

Funding

SS was supported by an educational grant of the Département de radiologie Université de Montreal.