A randomised cross-over trial of QT response to hyperventilation-induced anxiety and diaphragmatic breathing in patients with stress cardiomyopathy and in control patients.

<h4>Objectives</h4>The most perfect example of the mind-body interaction in all of medicine is provided by stress cardiomyopathy. In stress cardiomyopathy, what is initially a purely emotional event may become rapidly fatal. Prolongation of the QT interval is a cardinal feature of the co...

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Main Authors: George M Watson, Jacalin Sutherland, Cameron Lacey, Paul G Bridgman
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2022-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0265607
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author George M Watson
Jacalin Sutherland
Cameron Lacey
Paul G Bridgman
author_facet George M Watson
Jacalin Sutherland
Cameron Lacey
Paul G Bridgman
author_sort George M Watson
collection DOAJ
description <h4>Objectives</h4>The most perfect example of the mind-body interaction in all of medicine is provided by stress cardiomyopathy. In stress cardiomyopathy, what is initially a purely emotional event may become rapidly fatal. Prolongation of the QT interval is a cardinal feature of the condition, but the mechanism of the prolongation is unknown. We undertook a randomised controlled trial of stress with a cross-over design, comparing the cardiac response of women with a history of stress cardiomyopathy to age-matched controls to explore the mind-body interaction. Our hypothesis is that the hearts of women with a history of stress cardiomyopathy will respond differently to emotional stress than those of the controls.<h4>Method</h4>This is a randomised cross-over study. Each patient underwent two separate 24-hour Holter monitors performed at least 5 days apart. Baseline recording was followed by either the stress intervention (hyperventilation) or control (diaphragmatic breathing). Our primary endpoint is change in QTc interval over the first hour. Secondary endpoints were change in QTc over 24 hours, and change in SDNN, a measure of heart rate variability. As a secondary stressor, each participant was telephoned four times during their stressed recording and asked to complete a questionnaire.<h4>Results</h4>Twelve stress cardiomyopathy patients and twelve control patients were recruited. Baseline characteristics did not differ between cases and controls. With hyperventilation, there was a significant initial difference in anxiety (p<0.001), heart rate response (p<0.0001), and QTc (p<0.0002) compared to diaphragmatic breathing, but no differences between the cases and controls. Only first phone call caused an increase in QTc in cases and controls (p = 0.0098). SDNN increased with hyperventilation (p<0.0001) but did not differ between cases and controls.<h4>Conclusions</h4>QTc response in women with a history of stress cardiomyopathy does not differ from controls. The relevance of QT prolongation and sensitivity in the autonomic response to the pathogenesis of stress cardiomyopathy remains uncertain.
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spelling doaj.art-7faba9e81724499190a703ae7b069f372022-12-22T02:00:47ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032022-01-01173e026560710.1371/journal.pone.0265607A randomised cross-over trial of QT response to hyperventilation-induced anxiety and diaphragmatic breathing in patients with stress cardiomyopathy and in control patients.George M WatsonJacalin SutherlandCameron LaceyPaul G Bridgman<h4>Objectives</h4>The most perfect example of the mind-body interaction in all of medicine is provided by stress cardiomyopathy. In stress cardiomyopathy, what is initially a purely emotional event may become rapidly fatal. Prolongation of the QT interval is a cardinal feature of the condition, but the mechanism of the prolongation is unknown. We undertook a randomised controlled trial of stress with a cross-over design, comparing the cardiac response of women with a history of stress cardiomyopathy to age-matched controls to explore the mind-body interaction. Our hypothesis is that the hearts of women with a history of stress cardiomyopathy will respond differently to emotional stress than those of the controls.<h4>Method</h4>This is a randomised cross-over study. Each patient underwent two separate 24-hour Holter monitors performed at least 5 days apart. Baseline recording was followed by either the stress intervention (hyperventilation) or control (diaphragmatic breathing). Our primary endpoint is change in QTc interval over the first hour. Secondary endpoints were change in QTc over 24 hours, and change in SDNN, a measure of heart rate variability. As a secondary stressor, each participant was telephoned four times during their stressed recording and asked to complete a questionnaire.<h4>Results</h4>Twelve stress cardiomyopathy patients and twelve control patients were recruited. Baseline characteristics did not differ between cases and controls. With hyperventilation, there was a significant initial difference in anxiety (p<0.001), heart rate response (p<0.0001), and QTc (p<0.0002) compared to diaphragmatic breathing, but no differences between the cases and controls. Only first phone call caused an increase in QTc in cases and controls (p = 0.0098). SDNN increased with hyperventilation (p<0.0001) but did not differ between cases and controls.<h4>Conclusions</h4>QTc response in women with a history of stress cardiomyopathy does not differ from controls. The relevance of QT prolongation and sensitivity in the autonomic response to the pathogenesis of stress cardiomyopathy remains uncertain.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0265607
spellingShingle George M Watson
Jacalin Sutherland
Cameron Lacey
Paul G Bridgman
A randomised cross-over trial of QT response to hyperventilation-induced anxiety and diaphragmatic breathing in patients with stress cardiomyopathy and in control patients.
PLoS ONE
title A randomised cross-over trial of QT response to hyperventilation-induced anxiety and diaphragmatic breathing in patients with stress cardiomyopathy and in control patients.
title_full A randomised cross-over trial of QT response to hyperventilation-induced anxiety and diaphragmatic breathing in patients with stress cardiomyopathy and in control patients.
title_fullStr A randomised cross-over trial of QT response to hyperventilation-induced anxiety and diaphragmatic breathing in patients with stress cardiomyopathy and in control patients.
title_full_unstemmed A randomised cross-over trial of QT response to hyperventilation-induced anxiety and diaphragmatic breathing in patients with stress cardiomyopathy and in control patients.
title_short A randomised cross-over trial of QT response to hyperventilation-induced anxiety and diaphragmatic breathing in patients with stress cardiomyopathy and in control patients.
title_sort randomised cross over trial of qt response to hyperventilation induced anxiety and diaphragmatic breathing in patients with stress cardiomyopathy and in control patients
url https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0265607
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