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Introduction: Serum uric acid (SUA) may contribute to the increased cardiovascular damage through direct injury to the endothelium and alteration of cardiovascular function. Aim: To evaluate the association of SUA with the presence of the most recurrent electrographic alterations and with the length of the main ECG intervals in a large sample of general population. Methods: For this study, on the database of the Brisighella Heart Study, we evaluated the available data of 790 men and 849 women, excluding subjects affected by gout or taking antihyperuricemic agents, those taking drug increasing the QT interval and those using beta-blockers or non-dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers at the moment of the ECG registration. Multiple ascending stepwise regression analyses were carried out to determine the independent predictors of the predefined ECG alterations. Results: The prevalence of predefined ECG alterations was comparable between genders, with the exception of sinus bradicardia, left-anterior fascicular block, atrio-ventricular blocks and left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), which appeared to be more frequent in men. The multivariate analysis revealed that SUA was associated to ischaemic alterations, LVH, sinus tachycardia and tachyarrhytmias. Age was associated to all evaluated ECG alterations beyond sinus tachycardia and LVH. Male sex was associated to sinus bradicardia, atrio-ventricular blocks, anterior-left fascicular block and LVH. Blood pressure was associated to different ECG alterations, but with clinically relevant OR with ischaemic alterations and LVH. Conclusion: SUA level is related the prevalence of both organic and rhythm ECG alterations in a wide sample of general population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To determine the frequency of occurrence, risk factors, clinical spectrum and drugs associated with adverse drug reactions (ADRs) occurring in the coronary care unit (CCU) of a tertiary care hospital. Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study based on evaluation of the medical records of consecutive patients admitted to the CCU between January 2008 and December 2008. Each prescription was monitored for ADRs, and each ADR was assessed for causality, severity, predictability and preventability by two physicians using relevant scales. The chi-square test and independent t test were used to compare the ADR and non-ADR groups. Multiple binary logistic regression was used to identify risk factors for developing ADRs in the CCU. Results: Of 595 patients, 152 (25.5%) developed ADRs, of which 45% were potentially preventable. Severe ADRs constituted 28.6% of the total ADRs. Patients who developed an ADR had a longer duration of stay in the hospital (2.8 extra days) ( p < 0.05). Hypokalemia/hyperkalemia (22%), bleeding (11%) and cardiac arrhythmias (11%) were the commonest ADRs. The highest rates of ADRs were seen with streptokinase (59.4%). The predictors for developing an ADR in the CCU included renal dysfunction [odds ratio (OR) 1.66, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.007-2.72], arrhythmias (OR 1.74, 95% CI 1.052-2.87) and polypharmacy with more than ten drugs (OR 11.3, 95% CI 1.45-87.44). Conclusion: A high frequency of ADR occurrence was identified, with many of the ADRs being potentially preventable. Patients with renal dysfunction or cardiac arrhythmias and those receiving polypharmacy were at an increased risk for developing an ADR in the CCU. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]