Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Research

en Prevalence and Clinical Correlates of Prolonged QT Interval in Patients with Methadone Poisoning: A 10-Year Retrospective Study of 1,000 Cases عمومی General پژوهشي Original Research Objective: The purpose of this research study was two-fold: to determine the frequency of QT interval prolongation related to patients with methadone toxicities and to identify risk factors associated with the prolongation of the QT interval in these patients. Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study included 1,000 patients admitted to Shah Vali (Yazd) and Shahid Beheshti (Taft) hospitals as a result of methadone overdose between January 2014 and December 2023. Data collection from patient charts included demographic information, methadone doses received, and electrocardiographic (ECG) measurements of the width of the QT interval that were taken from routine ECGs. The QT interval was categorized into two groups: <450 ms (Group 1) and ≥450 ms (Group 2). Age was dichotomized into <45 years and ≥45 years. Results: Participants' average age was 32.8 ± 9.6 years. Their average dose of methadone was 75.4 ± 2.25 mg and the average QT interval was 478.6 ± 32.1 ms. Periods of prolonged QT (≥ 450 ms) occurred in 48 percent (n = 480) of participants. Statistical analysis showed a significant correlation between prolonged QT interval and factors like age group (p = 0.02), gender (p = 0.05), and electrolyte imbalances, particularly hypokalemia (p = 0.02). Conclusion: Numerous patients suffering from methadone overdose have severe QT prolongation based on clinical findings. Due to the high propensity for fatal arrhythmias associated with prolongation of the QT interval, these patients need continuous monitoring of their ECG (electrocardiogram) and prompt restoration of any abnormal electrolyte levels. Methadone, Poisoning, Electrocardiography, Long QT Syndrome, Cardiotoxicity, Opioid-Related Disorders 0 0 http://pbr.mazums.ac.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-1366-4&slc_lang=en&sid=1 Marziyeh Arjmand MArziyeh.arjmand1996@gmail.com 100319475328460012363 100319475328460012363 No Department of Medical Science, Yazd Branch, Azad University, Yazd, Iran. Mohammad Yousef Fazel m.yousef.fazel@gmail.com 100319475328460012364 100319475328460012364 No 2. School of Pharmacy, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Arash Parvaresh Parvaresha52@gmail.com 100319475328460012365 100319475328460012365 No 3. Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Fateme Shamsipour iamsarinafs@gmail.com 100319475328460012366 100319475328460012366 No 4. Student Research Committee, School of Health, Guilan University of Medical Sciences, Rasht, Iran Roshanak Ghorbani roshanakghorbani1@gmail.com 100319475328460012367 100319475328460012367 No 5. Universal Scientific Education and Reseach Network (USERN), Tehran, Iran. Amir Sajad Bagheryan amirsajadbagheryan@gmail.com 100319475328460012368 100319475328460012368 No 6. School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Seyed Ahmadreza Ziaei Niloofar.deravi@gmail.com 100319475328460012369 100319475328460012369 No Student Research Committee, Department of Medicine, Fasa University of Medical Sciences, Fasa, Iran Niloofar Deravi Nillofarderavi@yahoo.com 100319475328460012370 100319475328460012370 No Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Mehrnoush Giahi Yazdi mehrnoushg.yazdi@yahoo.com 100319475328460012371 100319475328460012371 No 9. General Practitioner, Social Security Organization of Yazd, Iran Marjan Shariatpanahi Shariatpanahi.m@iums.ac.ir 100319475328460012372 100319475328460012372 No 10. Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Elahe Zare drzareghalb@gmail.com 100319475328460012373 100319475328460012373 No 11. Clinical Research Development Center, Afshar Hospital, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran Hamid Owliaey hamid.owliaey@iau.ac.ir 100319475328460012374 100319475328460012374 Yes 12. Department of Forensic Medicine and Clinical Toxicology, Yazd Branch, Islamic Azad University, Yazd, Iran