Evaluation of varenicline usage on ventricular repolarization after smoking cessation.

After calculated according to Fridericia's and Framingham's formulas, QTc intervals were significantly increased when patients compared before and after smoking cessation with varenicline (402.9 ± 24.5 ms vs. 409.1 ± 25.0 ms p < 0.001 and 376.5 ± 15.2 ms, vs. 380.6 ± 13.5 ms; p < 0.001, respectively). There was no arrhythmic event during the follow-up. The change in Tp-e and QTc following varenicline usage was negatively correlated with the smoking packet/year. (ρ: -0.443, p < 0.001 and ρ = -0.601, p < 0.001) CONCLUSION: Varenicline usage was demonstrated to prolong ventricular repolarization parameters similar to animal studies. Varenicline may have a role to predispose cardiac dysrhythmias after utilization in smoking cessation.