Evaluating cardiac electrophysiological markers for predicting arrhythmic risk in hypothyroid patients.

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the impact of hypothyroidism and levothyroxine (LT4) treatment on arrhythmic risk by concurrently analyzing multiple electrocardiogram (ECG) parameters such as the Index of Cardio-Electrophysiological Balance (iCEB), frontal QRS-T angle, Tpeak-Tend (Tp-e) interval/QT interval ratio, and QT dispersion (QTd).

Methods: This cross-sectional study included 132 adult patients with primary hypothyroidism who had been receiving LT4 treatment, and 132 demographically matched healthy controls. The hypothyroid group was also stratified by thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels (subclinical <4.5 and overt ≥ 4.5). Participants underwent a series of thyroid function and ECG measurements.

Results: The hypothyroid and healthy control groups were matched for age and gender (p = 0.080; p = 0.176). Participants with hypothyroidism had higher Tp-e/QT ratios, iCEB, median frontal QRS-T angle, and corrected QT dispersion (cQTd) than healthy controls (p = 0.004; p = 0.025; p = 0.004; p = 0.004, respectively). In the overt group, the Tp-e/QT ratio, iCEB, and median frontal QRS-T angles were all higher (p = 0.012, p = 0.037, and p = 0.016, respectively). Logistic regression analysis indicated that a higher iCEB score (β = 0.60, p = 0.003) was significant for the detection of arrhythmia risk. ROC analysis showed that iCEB had the highest sensitivity (0.80), moderate specificity (0.60), and AUC 0.70.

Conclusion: Patients with hypothyroidism have a higher risk of arrhythmia. To assess this risk, it is important to analyze the Tp-e interval, iCEB, frontal QRS-T angle, and QTd. Differentiating between patients with subclinical and overt hypothyroidism can help minimize the risk of arrhythmia. iCEB is the most effective method for identifying arrhythmic risk. Using all these parameters can improve the accuracy of arrhythmic risk detection in patients with hypothyroidism.