Background: Ventricular arrhythmias after myocardial infarction (MI) are often nocturnal. However, the arrhythmogenic effects of sleep after MI are unknown. We examined the effects of sleep stages on QT dynamicity and tested the hypothesis of a differential effect of sleep stage on the QT/RR relationship after recent MI, versus in healthy controls (HC).
Methods: Polysomnography and electrocardiograms were simultaneously recorded in 21 men in the subacute phase of a first uncomplicated MI, and in 10 age-matched, male HC. QT dynamicity (QT/RR slope) and parameters of QT interval were measured during wakefulness, stages 1-4 of nonrapid eye movement (non-REM) sleep, and REM sleep.
Results: Mean QT and RR intervals increased through all sleep stages in both MI survivors and HC. The Bazett-corrected QT interval remained stable from wakefulness throughout all sleep stages. QT/RR slopes remained stable from wakefulness to stage 3 in both groups. However, unlike in MI survivors, the QT/RR slopes decreased and remained significantly lower during deep sleep and REM sleep in HC.
Conclusion: An abnormal QT/RR relationship in deep sleep and REM sleep was observed after a recent MI, reflecting an insufficient shortening of ventricular repolarization with increasing heart rates, which might have important implications in the nocturnal distribution of ventricular arrhythmias after MI.