ABSTRACT
Objective:
To evaluate the correlation between endemic
arsenic poisoning and abnormal
electrocardiogram (
ECG).
Methods:
PubMed, Web of
Science, Embase,
China National
Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang data, VIP and other databases were used for
literature retrieval, and epidemiological
literatures related to abnormal
ECG of endemic
arsenic poisoning published in domestic and abroad were included in the study. The
time limit was from the establishment of the database to December 1, 2020. RevMan 5.3 was used for
Meta-analysis of binary variables. Random effect model was selected according to the results of heterogeneity, and
odds ratio ( OR) was used as the effect index. Characteristic changes were found by subgroup
analysis.
Bias was published by funnel plot.
Results:
Nine articles were included in this
Meta-analysis, with 6 articles in
Chinese and 3 articles in English, respectively. The abnormal
ECG changes included QTc prolongation, ST-T segment change, left axis deviation and
arrhythmia. Finally, 1 975 cases were included in the exposure group, including 575 cases of abnormal
ECG; 750 cases of
control group, including 145 cases of abnormal
ECG.
Meta-analysis showed that the combined OR value [95%
confidence interval ( CI)] of abnormal
ECG changes was 4.41 (2.83 - 6.87), with statistical significance between the two groups ( Z = 6.56, P < 0.05); the results of subgroup
analysis showed that the combined OR values (95% CI) of QTc prolongation, ST-T segment change, left axis deviation and
arrhythmia were 12.30 (5.91 - 25.59), 2.74 (1.39 - 5.41), 2.93 (0.89 - 9.62) and 4.13 (2.38 - 7.17), respectively.
Conclusions:
Endemic
arsenic poisoning may cause abnormal
ECG. Prolongation of QTc caused by
arsenic exposure may be the characteristic change of abnormal
ECG.