The relationship between white coat hypertension and the index of cardiac electrophysiological balance (ICEB)

Abstract

Aim: The index of cardiac electrophysiological balance (ICEB) is a new marker that can show the potential for ventricular arrhythmia and indicate the balancebetween ventricular depolarization and repolarization. A tendency toward ventricular arrhythmia has been shown innon-dipper hypertension and prehypertensive patients in various studies. White coat hypertension (WCH) has been shown to be associated with target organ damage and the actual development of hypertension. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effect of dipper and non-dipper patterns on the ICEB in patients diagnosed with WCH. Material and Method: A total of 108 patients were included in this study. Patients were divided into two groups as dipper and non-dipper patterns according to ABPM. QT/QRS (ICEB) and cQT/QRS (ICEBc) were recorded with computerized interpretation of the electrocardiogram. Results: While electrocardiographic parameters including heart rate, PR interval, QT interval, cQT interval, and ICEB were similar in both groups (p>.05), in the non-dipper group, QRS duration was lower (p=.017) and ICEBc was higher (p=.001). Conclusion: ICEBc may predict asusceptibility to ventricular arrhythmias in WCH patients. Therefore, non-dipper WCH patients with a high ICEBc should be followed for arrhythmia outcomes in addition to hypertensive outcomes.