Abstract
Abstract: Homocysteine levels in the low to moderate range for
cardiovascular risk have been previously associated with left ventricular
cardiac hypertrophy (LVH). Electrocardiogram (ECG) derived QRS
duration has also been used as an epidemiological screening marker for
cardiac hypertrophy risk. QRS duration cut offs have not been previously
modeled to assess homocysteine levels in community populations. Our
aims are to determine if QRS duration is associated with an elevated
homocysteine level in a cross-sectional Australian aging rural population. A retrospective study design utilizing a rural health diabetic screening
clinic database containing observational data from the period January 9,
2002 till September 25, 2012. One hundred seventy-eight individuals
(>21 years of age) from the database were included in the study. Inclusion
criteria included being nondiabetic and having both a QRS duration
measure and a matching homocysteine level within the same subject.
All participants were from the Albury-Wodonga area, with a mean age of
>64 years for both sexes. Mean population homocysteine plasma levels were 10.4mmol/L (SD
¼ 3.6). The mean QRS duration was 101.8 ms (SD ¼ 17.4). Groups were
stratified on the basis of QRS duration (<120 ms [n¼ 157] and >120 ms
[n¼ 21]). QRS duration subgroup (120 ms vs >120 ms) mean differences across homocysteine levels were 10.1mmol/L (SD ¼ 3.3) and
12.2mmol/L (SD ¼ 4.7), respectively (P¼ 0.016). Other ECG parameters
(PQ interval, QTc interval, and QT dispersion) measurements were not
significantly associated with differences in plasma homocysteine (P¼ not
significant). We conclude that in community populations homocysteine may be
moderately elevated when QRS durations are >120 ms. Small additional
increases in homocysteine levels may suggest a risk factor for ECG
diagnosis of LVH.
Original language | English |
---|---|
Pages (from-to) | 1-5 |
Number of pages | 5 |
Journal | Medicine; analytical reviews of general medicine, neurology, psychiatry, dermatology, and pediatries |
Volume | 94 |
Issue number | 27 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Jul 2015 |