A STUDY ON THE PREVALENCE OF RISK FACTORS OF DRUG-INDUCED QTC PROLONGATION AMONG PATIENTS IN INTENSIVE CARE UNIT

Sudden cardiac death (SCD) is the most common cause of mortality among cardiovascular etiologies. Drug-induced Long-QT syndrome (diLQTS) is a prominent occurrence in Intensive Care Units (ICUs), often progressing to Torsades de Pointes (TdP), resulting in SCD. A prospective observational cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the prevalence of risk factors for diLQTS and to identify patients at risk for it in ICUs using the Tisdale score. Patients were recruited based on the selection criteria, and data on their demographics, laboratory and ECG assessments and administered medications were obtained from their case files. The prevalence of risk factors was calculated and the risk for diLQTS among the patients was assessed using the Tisdale score. Among 150 patients recruited, 51% and 49% were male and female, respectively, mostly aged >65 years (38%). QTc-prolongation was prevalent in 46% of patients. The prevalence of risk factors among the patients was: 35.33% aged ≥68 years, 40% females, 42% hypokalemic, 14% with acute MI, 28% with heart failure, 4% with sepsis, 24.66% prescribed with loop-diuretics, and 68% administered ≥2 QT-prolonging agents. The prevalence of patients with high, moderate and low risk for diLQTS was found to be 31.33%, 40% and 28.66%, respectively. Advanced age, hypokalemia, and longer QTc interval at admission were significantly associated with QTc prolongation. Conclusively, QTc prolongation was prevalent among the patients admitted to ICUs with a high prevalence of the risk factors for diLQTS. Medication administration should be monitored for these patients for safety and optimal therapeutic outcomes.