BACKGROUND Fluoroquinolones, crucial components of treatment regimens for drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB), are associated with QT interval prolongation and risks of fatal cardiac arrhythmias. However, few studies have explored dynamic changes in the QT interval in patients receiving QT-prolonging agents. METHODS This prospective cohort study recruited hospitalized patients with TB who received fluoroquinolones. The study investigated the variability of the QT interval by using serial electrocardiograms (ECGs) recorded four times daily. This study analyzed the accuracy of intermittent and single-lead ECG monitoring in detecting QT interval prolongation. RESULTS This study included 32 patients. The mean age was 68.6 ± 13.2 years. The results revealed mild-to-moderate and severe QT interval prolongation in 13 (41%) and 5 (16%) patients, respectively. The incremental yields in sensitivity of one to four daily ECG recordings were 61.0%, 26.1%, 5.6%, and 7.3% in detecting mild-to-moderate QT interval prolongation, and 66.7%, 20.0%, 6.7%, and 6.7% in detecting severe QT interval prolongation. The sensitivity levels of lead II and V5 ECGs in detecting mild-to-moderate and severe QT interval prolongation exceeded 80%, and their specificity levels exceeded 95%. CONCLUSION This study revealed a high prevalence of QT interval prolongation in older patients with TB who receive fluoroquinolones, particularly those with multiple cardiovascular risk factors. Sparsely intermittent ECG monitoring, the prevailing strategy in active drug safety monitoring programs, is inadequate owing to multifactorial and circadian QT interval variability. Additional studies performing serial ECG monitoring are warranted to enhance the understanding of dynamic QT interval changes in patients receiving QT-prolonging anti-TB agents.
Serial electrocardiogram recordings revealed a high prevalence of QT interval prolongation in patients with tuberculosis receiving fluoroquinolones.
Ke Ju,Ren-Guey Lee,Hsien-chun Lin,Jin-Hua Chen,Bi-Fang Hsu,Jann-Yuan Wang,Nguyen Van Dong,Ming-Chih Yu,C. Lee
Published 2023 in Journal of the Formosan Medical Association = Taiwan yi zhi
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- Publication year
2023
- Venue
Journal of the Formosan Medical Association = Taiwan yi zhi
- Publication date
2023-05-01
- Fields of study
Medicine
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- Source metadata
Semantic Scholar, PubMed
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