1Junior Resident, Department of General Medicine, Sree Balaji Medical College and Hospital, Chennai-600044. Email: satwickv1499@gmail.com. ORCID: 0009-0008-8497-2902
2Assistant Professor, Department of General Medicine, Sree Balaji Medical College and Hospital, Chennai-600044. Email: drhappy03@gmail.com. ORCID: 0000-0002-7410-9522
3Assistant Professor, Department of General Medicine, Sree Balaji Medical College and Hospital, Chennai-600044. Email: anisaruldas@gmail.com. ORCID: 0009-0004-0873-8883
Background: Obesity is a growing global health concern and is strongly associated with cardiovascular morbidity. Prolonged corrected QT interval (QTc) is an established marker of ventricular repolarization abnormality and is linked to increased risk of malignant arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death. Both general obesity (measured by BMI) and central obesity (measured by waist circumference) may influence QTc duration.
Objective: To evaluate the correlation between QTc interval and body mass index (BMI) as well as central obesity parameters in adult individuals.
Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted from January 2024 to March 2025 involving 150 adults aged 30–70 years attending outpatient services. BMI and waist circumference were recorded. Standard 12-lead ECG was performed and QT interval was corrected using Bazett's formula (QTc = QT/√RR). Correlation analysis and multivariate regression were performed to assess associations between QTc, BMI, and waist circumference.
Results: Mean QTc interval increased progressively across BMI categories (p < 0.001). A significant positive correlation was observed between QTc and BMI (r = 0.42, p < 0.001) as well as waist circumference (r = 0.48, p < 0.001). Central obesity demonstrated a stronger association with QTc prolongation compared to BMI. After adjusting for age, sex, hypertension, and diabetes status, waist circumference remained an independent predictor of prolonged QTc (β = 0.31, p < 0.001).
Conclusion: QTc interval shows a significant positive correlation with both BMI and central obesity, with central adiposity demonstrating a stronger association. Routine ECG evaluation in overweight and centrally obese individuals may help identify patients at risk of arrhythmic complications.
Keywords: QTc interval, body mass index, central obesity, waist circumference, ventricular repolarization, arrhythmia risk
How to cite this article: Satwick V, Anbalagan VP, Aruldas AP. Corrected QT Interval (QTc) Correlation with Body Mass Index and Central Obesity in Adults at a Tertiary Care Hospital, Chennai, India. Int J Drug Deliv Technol. 2026;16(2): 80-82; DOI: 10.25258/ijddt.16.2.10
Source of support: Nil.
Conflict of interest: None