QT interval variability in body surface ECG: Measurement, physiological basis, and clinical value: Position statement and consensus guidance endorsed by the European Heart Rhythm Association jointly with the ESC Working Group on Cardiac Cellular Electrophysiology

Mathias Baumert, Alberto Porta, Marc A. Vos, Marek Malik, Jean Philippe Couderc, Pablo Laguna, Gianfranco Piccirillo, Godfrey L. Smith, Larisa G. Tereshchenko, Paul G.A. Volders

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    175 Scopus citations

    Abstract

    This consensus guideline discusses the electrocardiographic phenomenon of beat-to-beat QT interval variability (QTV) on surface electrocardiograms. The text covers measurement principles, physiological basis, and clinical value of QTV. Technical considerations include QT interval measurement and the relation between QTV and heart rate variability. Research frontiers of QTV include understanding of QTV physiology, systematic evaluation of the link between QTV and direct measures of neural activity, modelling of the QTV dependence on the variability of other physiological variables, distinction between QTV and general T wave shape variability, and assessing of the QTV utility for guiding therapy. Increased QTV appears to be a risk marker of arrhythmic and cardiovascular death. It remains to be established whether it can guide therapy alone or in combination with other risk factors. QT interval variability has a possible role in non-invasive assessment of tonic sympathetic activity.

    Original languageEnglish (US)
    Pages (from-to)925-944
    Number of pages20
    JournalEuropace
    Volume18
    Issue number6
    DOIs
    StatePublished - Jun 2016

    Keywords

    • Autonomic nervous system
    • ECG
    • Heart rate variability
    • QT interval variability
    • Repolarization
    • Sympathetic activity

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine
    • Physiology (medical)

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