Starvation Diets as a Cause of Acquired Long QT Syndrome

Background: Prolongation of the rate-corrected QT interval (QTc) and ventricular arrhythmias have been described in persons on starvation diets (1). Prolongation of the QTc interval as measured by standard 12-lead electrocardiography is an independent risk factor for sudden death due to cardiac arrest (2).

Objective: To determinate whether long-term weight loss over 7 weeks can influence cardiac repolarization as indicated by the electrocardiographic QT interval.

Methods: The electrocardiographic QT, RR, and QTc (QT/RR(0,5)) intervals were assessed in 29 healthy obese (body mass index >27 kg/m²) persons on a very-low-calorie diet (800 kcal/d) for 7 weeks. The intervals, serum albumin, and electrolytes were measured at baseline, once weekly, …