Russell H, et al. - In this prospective observational study, researchers focused on the incidence, predictors as well as consequences of QTc (the QT interval duration corrected for heart rate according to Bazett's formula) prolongation (≥ 500 ms) during ICU admission. This study included overall 257 patients admitted to a tertiary ICU, of these, ≥ 1 episode of QTc ≥ 500 ms was developed by 93 (36.2%). Higher Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II scores, receipt of more QT-prolonging medications, and more often occurrence of non-sustained and sustained ventricular tachycardia was reported for such patients. Longer ICU and hospital length-of-stay, and greater ICU and in-hospital mortality were observed in patients with QTc prolongation. A QTc ≥ 500 ms was identified as a possible marker of illness severity altered by various risk factors. No independent link of a QTc ≥ 500 ms with clinically-significant ventricular tachyarrhythmias was found. Therefore, there may be no clinical advantage of stopping QT-prolonging medications to prevent arrhythmias.