The impact of age on long QT syndrome

摘要

Inherited long QT syndrome (LQTS) is an arrhythmogenic disorder predisposing to sudden cardiac death (SCD) secondary to polymorphic VT; mostly torsades de pointes. The mean age at presentation is 14 years of age, whilst the median age of individuals who die of LQTS is 32 years, with men predominantly affected. Inherited LQTS is characterized by prolonged ventricular repolarization represented on the ECG by an increased corrected QT (QTc) interval. Three main genes account for approximately 90% of all genotyped cases of LQTS. The risk of arrhythmic events is determined by age, sex, QTc interval, a history of syncope, and genotype, and in acquired LQTS QTc prolongation secondary to certain medication further increases the risk of cardiac arrhythmias ( ).