Introduction: Many electrocardiographic (ECG) changes have been observed after strokes. We analyzed the QTc interval prolongation following stroke. Aim: The study aimed to assess if the prolongation in QTc interval is related to the occurrence of acute ischemic stroke. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted from July to December 2018. We included 100 consecutive patients with first-ever ischemic stroke who were admitted to our emergency department, who were age-matched and gender-matched with a control group of 100 non-stroke patients that visited our outpatients department for diseases other than cerebrovascular or cardiovascular ones. A single 12-lead resting ECG examination was done in all patients at the time of their emergency department admission. Results: No significant difference between the two groups regarding the age distribution and mean age was found. 56.5% of the sample were males but the difference was not significant between both gender groups. The main presenting symptoms of stroke cases were right-sided weakness (47%), left-sided weakness (36%), and right-sided weakness and aphasia (10%). 34% of the cases had prolonged QTc interval while none of the controls had a prolonged interval (p-value
Key words: stroke, QTc interval, ECG, ischemia.
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