Discussion on Repolarization Reserve between Patients with Coronary Heart Disease and Normal Controls

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the repolarization reserve of normal controls (NCs) and patients with coronary heart disease (CHD). METHODS: From January 1st, 2010 to December 31st, 2018, 200 age- and gender-matched inpatients in the Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University and Heji Hospital Affiliated to Changzhi Medical College were selected for treadmill exercise test (TET), including 67 patients in the myocardial ischemia group, 66 patients in the suspected myocardial ischemia group, and 67 patients in the normal control group. Coronary angiography (CAG) was performed on 49 of 133 patients in the myocardial ischemia group and the suspected myocardial ischemia group, and 9 positives and 40 negatives were identified. The heart rate (HR) and QT interval of TET examiners before exercise, during exercise (90 beats/min, 120 beats/min, maximum HR), and in the recovery period (1 minute and 3 minutes after exercise) were reviewed, and QTc values were calculated after being corrected by BaZett's. RESULTS: The mean QTc values in NCs were all below 452 ms, before exercise, during exercise (90 beats/min, 120 beats/min and maximum HR), and during the recovery period (1 minute and 3 minutes after exercise). The comparison results of the RR interval between the two groups revealed P > 0.05, indicating no statistical significance. Significant differences were present when comparing the QT intervals when the HRs were 90 beats/minute and 120 beats/minute during exercise (P < 0.05). And comparing the QTc values, it was found that the QTc values during different exercise periods were statistically different between groups (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: NCs have good repolarization reserve. CAG can confirm true myocardial ischemia patients (i.e., patients with CHD) among myocardial ischemia and suspected myocardial ischemia patients screened by TET. Patients with positive CAG have poor repolarization reserve as QT interval represents ventricular repolarization adaptability.