Abstract
C-reactive protein (CRP) and corrected QT (QTc) interval are predictors of cardiovascular disease. Whether CRP is associated with QTc interval and QT prolongation is unknown in hypertensive patients. We recruited hypertensive patients from a cardiovascular clinic in a tertiary medical center in Taiwan. All received standard 12-lead electrocardiogram examination. QT prolongation was defined as QTc interval ≥ 440 ms in men or ≥ 450 ms in women. High-sensitive CRP kits were used for the measurement of the CRP levels. A total of 466 consecutive patients were finally enrolled. Mean age was 60.6 ± 12.0 years. CRP level was correlated with QTc interval (p < 0.001) and presence of QT prolongation (p = 0.014). Multivariate regression analysis showed that CRP level (p = 0.001), age (p = 0.004), sex (p < 0.001), height (p = 0.001), low-density lipoprotein (p = 0.041), and QRS interval (p < 0.001) were associated with QTc interval. Furthermore, CRP level [odds ratio (OR) = 1.203, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.027-1.410, p = 0.022], age (OR = 1.040, 95% CI = 1.010-1.071, p = 0.009), waist (OR = 1.033, 95% CI = 1.000-1.066, p = 0.047), triglyceride (OR = 0.993, 95% CI = 0.987-0.999, p = 0.021) and QRS interval (OR = 1.046, 95% CI = 1.028-1.065, p < 0.001) independently predicted the presence of QT prolongation. Because CRP is an independent predictor of QTc interval and presence of QT prolongation, it could be considered in the risk assessment for hypertensive patients.