The prevalence of prolonged QTc increases by GOLD stage, and is associated with worse survival among subjects with COPD.

BACKGROUND: The role of QTc-prolongation, in relation to the increased mortality in COPD, is unclear.

OBJECTIVES: To estimate the prevalence and prognostic impact, assessed as mortality, of QTc-prolongation in COPD, restrictive spirometric pattern (RSP), and normal lung function (NLF), respectively.

METHODS: All individuals (n = 993) with COPD and age- and sex-matched non-obstructive referents were identified from well-defined population-based cohorts examined in Northern Sweden in 2002-04. In 2005, the study-sample was invited to re-examination including ECG; QTc was calculated and mortality data collected until 31st December 2010.

RESULTS: The prevalence of QTc-prolongation was higher among people with RSP than among those with NLF and, although similar in NLF and COPD, the prevalence increased by COPD-severity. Among participants with COPD, those with QTc prolongation had higher mortality than those with normal QTc, while no such differences were found among participants with NLF or RSP.

CONCLUSION: Among participants with COPD, the prevalence of QTc-prolongation increased by disease-severity and was associated with mortality.