Can hypothermia-induced changes in QRS and QT(c) intervals predict cardiac arrest?

Anders Lund Selli; Les Gordon; Peter Paal; Evelien Cools; Erik Sveberg Dietrichs

doi:10.1186/s13104-026-07797-4

Can hypothermia-induced changes in QRS and QT(c) intervals predict cardiac arrest?

BMC Res Notes. 2026 Apr 12;19(1):167. doi: 10.1186/s13104-026-07797-4.

Authors

Anders Lund Selli¹, Les Gordon², Peter Paal³, Evelien Cools^{4

5}, Erik Sveberg Dietrichs⁶

Affiliations

¹ Pharmacology and Toxicology Research Group, Department of Medical Biology, UiT - The Arctic University of Norway, Stakkevollan, Post Box 6050, 9037, Tromsø, Norway. anders.l.selli@uit.no.
² Department of Anaesthesia, University Hospitals Morecambe Bay Trust, Royal Lancaster Infirmary, Lancaster, UK.
³ Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, St. John of God Hospital, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria.
⁴ Department of Anaesthesiology, Hôpital Riviera-Chablais, Route du Vieux-Sequoia 20, 1847, Rennaz, Switzerland.
⁵ Air Zermatt, Spissstrasse 107, 3920, Zermatt, Switzerland.
⁶ Institute for Experimental Medical Research, Oslo University Hospital and University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.

Abstract

Hypothermic cardiac arrest (HCA) is often caused by ventricular tachyarrhythmias in severe hypothermia. The QRS/QTc ratio may predict arrhythmia risk, but data are insufficient. Routine QRS/QTc measurements during transport and in-hospital care, along with consistent reporting, could improve understanding, management, and survival outcomes in severe accidental hypothermia cases.

Keywords: Cardiac arrest; ECG; Emergency medicine; Hypothermia; Ventricular fibrillation; Ventricular tachycardia.

Publication types

Letter