QT Interval in Patients With Pacemaker Dependency

Corrected QT Interval in Patients With Pacemaker Dependency (QT-TENDENCY-Study)

The aim of this study is to examine a correction term for an adapted QT interval during ventricular pacing (right, left and biventricular pacing) to obtain valid formulae correcting for the QT intervals in various pacing conditions.

This investigation aims at determining a possibility to assess the usefulness of various formulae that correct for the different effects of various pacing modes on the QT interval. More specifically, the hypothesis will be tested that applying adequate correction will preserve the predictive power of the QT-interval regarding proarrhythmia in various cardiac pathologies and therapies.

Inclusion Criteria:

• caucasian race
• implanted cardioverter/defibrillator or pacemaker
• negative pregnancy test for women of child bearing potential
• stable function of the implanted device
• stable medical therapy relating to the underlying disease
• stable medical therapy of antiarrhythmic drugs and other QT-time changing drugs
• no instability of rhythm
• x-ray of thorax during device implantation in two levels (ap and ll axis)
• written informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

• coronary heart disease and angina pectoris symptoms
• patient with acute myocardial infarction or CABG while the last 4 weeks
• patient with tachycardia and a rest frequency >80 bpm
• patient with severe pulmonary disease
• patient with anaemia
• patient with acute infections
• patient with severe kidney or liver disease