QT Dispersion and Sleep related Breathing Disorders in Recipients of Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator

The aim was to investigate a high risk group of patients with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) and to evaluate the relation of QT dispersion and sleep related breathing disorders (SRBD). The study population consisted of 44 unselected ICD recipients. The patients were divided in two groups: group I consisted of 29 pts without or only with mild SRBD, group 11-15 pts with at least moderate SBBD. The groups did not differ according to the age, sex, ejection fraction and use of beta-blocking agents or amiodarone. QT dispersion (QTD) did not differ between the groups: 63.4 +/- 17.9 ms in group I and 60.3 +/- 25.7 ms in group II, p=0.64. Heart rate corrected QT dispersion (QTcD) did not differ between the groups as well (66.7 +/- 19.5 ms in group I and 67.6 +/- 30.4 ins in group II, p=0.91). Spearman correlation analysis between the QTD, QTcD and Apnea-Hypopnea Index did not show any significant correlations in this contingent.