Background:

Acquired prolonged QT syndrome (SQTP) is associated with the use of certain drugs. Timely detection of SQTP allows measures to be taken to prevent potentially lethal ventricular arrhythmias.

Objective:

To determine the frequency of SQTP in adult patients admitted to Clinical Medicine Services, to describe the demographic, clinical, laboratory characteristics and the use of drugs associated with prolongation of the QTc interval.

Materials and methods:

Observational, prospective, longitudinal design was applied in men and women, over 16 years of age, admitted to the Clinical Medicine Service of the National Hospital (Itauguá, Paraguay) and the Central Military Hospital (Asunción, Paraguay) in 2019. Demographic, clinical, laboratory variables and an electrocardiogram (ECG) were measured at admission and at one week of hospitalization. All values ​​of the QTc interval ≥0.45 sec in men and ≥0.47 sec in women were considered STQL.

Results:

Two hundred fifty-seven subjects, 55% men and 45% women, with a mean age of 58±20 years, entered the study. SQTP was detected in 55 patients (21%) while the most commonly used drugs in patients with SQTP were omeprazole, furosemide, piperacillin-tazobactam, tramadol, ondansetron, amiodarone, salbutamol, ciprofloxacin, antiretroviral drugs, levofloxacin, metoclopramide and cotrimoxazole.

Conclusion:

The frequency of SQTP was 21% and the most frequent comorbidity was arterial hypertension (62%). The most commonly used drugs in patients with SQTP were those commonly used in the Clinical Medicine rooms.

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