Effect of Atorvastatin on QTc Interval Duration in Patients with Heart Failure
Heart failure is related to QTc interval prolongation and changes in the QRS complex. Recently, elevated plasma levels of brain natriuretic peptide (proBNP) is also being recognized as an important prognostic factor of heart failure. Inhibitors of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl CoA reductase, statins, might improve general condition and outcome in patients with heart failure. We hypothesized that short-term statin treatment shortens QTc interval duration and has beneficial effects in patients with heart failure. Forty-three patients with heart failure of ischemic or nonischemic etiology were randomly divided into two groups. The atorvastatin group (n = 23) received atorvastatin in a dosage of 10 mg/day for 3 months, while the control group (n = 20) did not. After 3 months, QTc interval duration in the atorvastatin group was significantly shorter compared to baseline (460.30± 34.50 vs. 443.35 ± 30.35, p < 0.05), while there were no such changes in the control group. Exercise tolerance was much better in the atorvastatin group after 3 months (309.83 ± 84.46 vs. 341.33 ± 82.21, p < 0.05). A significant shortening (> 10 ms) of the QTc interval in the atorvastatin group was associated with improvement in exercise capacity. Plasma levels of proBNP and QRS complex duration did not change significantly during the study and neither did they differ between the groups. Short-term atorvastatin treatment shortens QTc interval duration in patients with heart failure and is related to improved exercise capacity, without affecting QRS complex duration or plasma levels of proBNP. QTc interval shortening is related to improvements of exercise capacity in patients with heart failure.