- Title
- Prolonged androgenic anabolic steroid (AAS) induced QT interval shortening : A suitable screening tool?
- Creator
- Sculthorpe, Nicholas; Taylor, Lee; Grace, Fergal
- Date
- 2016
- Type
- Text; Journal article
- Identifier
- http://researchonline.federation.edu.au/vital/access/HandleResolver/1959.17/158104
- Identifier
- vital:11740
- Identifier
-
https://doi.org/10.1002/dta.1826
- Identifier
- ISSN:1942-7603
- Abstract
- Androgenic anabolic steroid (AAS) abuse is associated with changes in cardiac electrophysiology. Recently heart rate corrected QT interval (QTc) has been suggested as a method of screening for AAS use in athletes despite conflicting reports. This study aimed to further investigate the effect of AAS on QTc in a cohort of long-term AAS users in whom the affects may be more pronounced. Using a cross-sectional cohort design with AAS using resistance trained athletes (AS n = 15) and a group of non-AAS using resistance trained, age matched controls (C n = 15). AS had a long history of AAS use (18 +/- 2 yrs) and AS and C both had >19 years of resistance training. Participants underwent a resting electrocardiogram (ECG), from which, the QTc interval was calculated using the Bazett formula. The main outcome measure was significant differences in mean corrected QTc between groups. A secondary outcome was to calculate a QTc that best differentiated between C and AS. Results indicated that QTc was shorter in AS than in C (382.0 +/- 21.01 ms versus 409 +/- 18.77 ms for AS and C respectively p < 0.001). Chi squared analyses revealed a greater incidence of QTc < 380 ms in AS versus C p < 0.01, specificity 93% sensitivity 60%). In conclusion these results supports previous findings that AAS use causes a reduction in QTc, however, the specificity and sensitivity in our sample is lower than reported previously and precludes use as a screening tool.
- Relation
- Drug Testing and Analysis Vol. 8, no. 1 (2016), p. 120-122
- Rights
- © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
- Rights
- This metadata is freely available under a CCO license
- Subject
- 0301 Analytical Chemistry; 1115 Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences; Doping; Screening; Electrophysiology
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