Objective: QT dispersion (QTd), defined as the difference between the longest interval and the shortest interval in the 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG), is a measure of myocardial repolarization inhomogeneity. We assessed QTd in malnourished anorexia nervosa (AN) inpatients and following weight restoration.
Methods: QTd analysis, anthropometric evaluations, and laboratory tests were carried out in 30 malnourished female adolescent AN restricting-type (AN-R) inpatients and following weight restoration.
Results: A significant increase was found in weight/height ratio and body mass index from malnourished stage to weight restoration, paralleled by a significant decrease in QTd (70+/-16 vs. 47+/-16 ms; P<.0001). No correlations were found between ECG indices and anthropometric and laboratory measures.
Conclusion: Elevated QTd in malnourished AN-R inpatients may indicate possible cardiac autonomic imbalance and/or myocardial damage, likely corrected following weight restoration.