EVALUATION OF PREVALENCE, CHARACTERISTICS AND RISK FACTORS OF QT INTERVAL PROLONGING DRUGDRUG INTERACTIONS IN CARDIOLOGY PATIENTS
BALKAN 15th INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON APPLIED SCIENCES, Skopje, Makedonya, 20 - 22 Mart 2026, ss.60-63, (Özet Bildiri)
- Yayın Türü: Bildiri / Özet Bildiri
- Basıldığı Şehir: Skopje
- Basıldığı Ülke: Makedonya
- Sayfa Sayıları: ss.60-63
- Trakya Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet
Özet
Background and Aim: The QT interval is a critical parameter reflecting the electrical activity
of the heart; prolongation of this interval due to drugs or genetic factors can lead to lifethreatening ventricular arrhythmias. Many classes of cardiac and non-cardiac drugs may
prolong the QT interval, and interactions between these drugs may increase the risk of adverse
effects. This study aims to evaluate the prevalence, characteristics, and related risk factors of
QT interval-prolonging drug use and the interactions between these drugs in patients
hospitalized in a cardiology unit.
Material and Methods: In this study, QT interval-prolonging drug use and QT-prolonging
drug-drug interactions were retrospectively analyzed in 1,051 patients treated at the Trakya
University Cardiology Unit between January 1, 2024, and July 1, 2024. Demographic
characteristics, medications, laboratory results, and electrocardiography data were accessed via digital hospital records. QT-prolonging drugs were classified according to the WHO
Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical classification system and torsades de pointes risk categories.
QT-interval prolonging drug-drug interactions were evaluated using the Drugs.com, Epocrates,
Medscape, and Lexicomp databases. Statistical analyses were performed using R version 4.4.2
software.
Results: At least one QT-prolonging drug was used in 87.6% of the 1,051 patients evaluated,
and at least one QT-prolonging drug-drug interaction was detected in 45.3%. Pantoprazole was
the most frequently used QT interval-prolonging drug at 47.8%. While QT interval
prolongation was detected in 44.8% of the patients, the presence of QT interval-prolonging
drug-drug interactions, advanced age, hypokalemia, and hypocalcemia were identified as strong independent risk factors for QT prolongation. The total number of QT-prolonging drug-drug interactions was 1.187, involving 291 different drug pairs. The most frequent interacting drug pair was furosemide+pantoprazole (15.0%). Of the interactions, 77.8% were pharmacodynamic and 75.1% were of moderate severity. The total number of QT interval-prolonging agents was the strongest independent variable associated with the presence of QT-prolonging drug-drug interactions.
Conclusion: QT interval-prolonging drugs are used in 87.6% of patients hospitalized in the
cardiology unit, and potential QT-prolonging drug-drug interactions are present in nearly
half. Advanced age, electrolyte imbalances, and QT interval-prolonging drug-drug interactions
increase the risk of QT interval prolongation. The increase in the total number of QT interval
prolonging drugs used was the strongest factor increasing the likelihood of QT-prolonging
drug-drug interactions. In cardiology units, a comprehensive risk assessment should be
performed and potential adverse effects monitored when planning treatment with QTprolonging drugs.
Keywords: QT interval-prolonging drugs, cardiology unit, QT-prolonging drug-drug
interactions.