Plasma homocysteine levels associated with a corrected QT interval

BACKGROUND: Little is known about the relationship between homocysteine (Hcy) levels and the QT interval. We examined the association of different Hcy levels with corrected QT (QTc) intervals in a general population. METHODS: Plasma levels of Hcy were assessed in a population-based study of 7002 participants 35 years of age and older from 2012 to 2013. Twelve-lead ECGs were performed on all participants and analyzed automatically. RESULTS: The distribution of Hcy levels was determined for an entire population after the data were grouped into quartiles (Q1: <=11.1umol/L; Q2: 11.1–13.8umol/L; Q3: 13.8–18.2 umol/L; Q4 > 18.2 umol/L). The mean value of the QTc interval in each quartile was 433.2 ± 23.8 ms, 430.0 ± 24.6 ms, 429.2 ± 24.5 ms and 430.6 ± 25.7 ms. Multiple logistic regression analyses showed that, compared with the second quartile, and after fully adjusting for potential confounding factors, the odds for QTc > 440 ms in the first and fourth quartile increased (P < 0.05), (OR: 1.23, 95% CI: 1.05–1.43 for Q1; OR: 1.40, 95% CI: 1.19–1.65 for Q4). CONCLUSIONS: QTc interval was associated with the Hcy level in this general population. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12872-017-0617-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.