Publication: Transient Effect of Acute Mental Stress on Corrected QT Interval among Healthy Male Students
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Date
2022
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Institute of Medicine
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Introduction: The time taken for depolarization and repolarization of the ventricles is represented by the QT interval. Psychological factors such as active mental stress may influence the action potentials developed in the heart and may alter QT interval of an individual. Therefore, our study was targeted to find the transient effect of acute mental stress on corrected QT interval among the healthy male students.
Methods: An experimental study was conducted among 55 male first year undergraduates, studying medical and dental courses in Nepal Medical College and Teaching Hospital (NMCTH). The study was executed in the Electrocardiography (ECG) lab of Department of Physiology of NMCTH from September 2022 – November 2022. ECG was obtained before and after the application of active/acute mental stress using standard mental arithmetic test (MAT) for 1 minute.
Results: In comparison to rest state, a statistically significant decreased RR interval and increased heart rate (p<0.001) was observed after MAT. A statistically significant decrease in QT interval [0.35±0.05 sec Vs 0.32±0.05 sec] (p<0.001) and QTc interval [0.41±0.05 sec Vs 0.39±0.05 sec] (p<0.001) was observed after MAT. Nevertheless, there was no statistically significant change in QRS duration after the MAT (p=0.16).
Conclusion: Acute mental stress causes shortening of the QTc interval in young healthy males.
Keywords: Acute mental stress, mental arithmetic test, QT interval, QTc interval
Description
Seerina Adhikari Manandhar1, Tapas Pramanik1, Mrigendra Amatya1, Vinutha Silvanus2
1Department of Physiology, Nepal Medical College, Gokarnewshwor-8, Attarkhel, Jorpati, Kathmandu, Nepal
2Department of Community Medicine, Nepal Medical College, Gokarnewshwor-8, Attarkhel, Jorpati, Kathmandu, Nepal
Keywords
Acute mental stress, mental arithmetic test, QT interval, QTc interval