Figure 2. Patient selection based on 12-lead ECG readings
In total, 100 patients (50% females; mean age 61 years) were included in our analysis. The patients’ risk factors that were present at the time of score calculation are represented in table 2. Since the risk score calculation was triggered upon signature or verification of a QTc-prolonging medication, the majority of patients had more than one risk score calculation and custom alert at varying times. Therefore, we reported the risk factors as percentages of both total number of patients and total number of custom alerts. Drugs from CredibleMeds list 1, 2 and 3 are not mutually exclusive, and most patients had more than one drug from each list at the time of score calculation. The mean score ± standard deviation was 13 ± 5 with a median (interquartile range) of 12.25 (9-15). Risk scores from the custom alert ranged between 0.5 and 31.75. Baseline 12-lead ECG readings ranged between 346 ms and 519 ms for the custom alert, and between 346 ms and 492 ms for the DDI warning. As for the follow-up 12-lead ECG readings, they ranged between 360 ms and 516 ms for the custom alert, and between 372 ms and 516 ms for the DDI warning.
Table 2. Risk factors and characteristics of patients with a risk score calculation