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Article: Rhythm Abnormality of Unknown Origin Strongly Predicts Sudden Death Risk in Heart Disease Patients: "Idiopathic QT interval prolongation" was linked to a five-fold increase in sudden death risk among patients with coronary artery disease.
- Article from:
- Heart Disease Weekly
- Article date:
- February 22, 2009
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Researchers conducting a large, ongoing study to improve detection and prevention of sudden cardiac death were surprised to discover that a specific heart rhythm abnormality - idiopathic QT interval prolongation - increased risk five-fold among patients with coronary artery disease.
"More than 80 percent of all cases of sudden cardiac death occur in people who have significant coronary artery disease, but we currently do not have a medical test that consistently identifies patients at risk," said Sumeet S. Chugh, M.D., associate director of the Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute and director of Clinical Electrophysiology. Chugh is first author of an article in ...