24 h Holter ECG Monitoring of Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis—A Potential Role for a Precise Evaluation of QT Interval Duration and Associated Arrhythmic Complications

Background: Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have increased systemic inflammatory burden associated with elevated cardiovascular mortality. Prolonged ventricular repolarisation evaluated by QT interval duration is a risk factor for cardiovascular and total mortality. In RA, mortality risk is correlated with dynamics and cumulative incidence of QTc prolongation rather than QTc value. The aim is to evaluate if QT parameters evaluated with 24 h Holter ECG are a better option to complete the cardiovascular profile of RA patients than parameters from short ECG recordings. Materials and methods: A total of 58 patients (22 males, 36 females) with RA were submitted to short ECG recordings at admission and to 24 h Holter ECG. QT interval parameters and ventricular ectopy generated from both types of recordings were analyzed. Results: QTc interval values obtained from Holter ECG were significantly higher than the values from short term ECG and were correlated with severity of inflammatory process. The number of QRS complexes with QTc > 450 ms recorded during 24 h Holter was strongly correlated with the number of ventricular events and severity of the inflammatory process. Conclusions: In patients with RA, the Holter ECG recordings could realize a more precise evaluation of the extent and dynamics of QTc interval duration and of ventricular ectopic events with potential risk of sudden death.