Analysis of an ECG Record Database Reveals QT Interval Prolongation Potential of Famotidine in a Large Korean Population

Some non-antiarrhythmic drugs have the undesirable property of delaying cardiac repolarization, an effect that can be measured empirically as a prolongation of the QT interval by surface electrocardiogram (ECG). The QT prolongation and proarrhythmia potential of famotidine are largely unknown, particularly in individuals that have cardiovascular risk factors such as abnormal electrolyte levels. Based on an analysis of QT/QTc intervals from a database of ECG recordings from a large Korean population (ECG-ViEW, 710,369 ECG recordings from 371,401 individuals), we observed that famotidine administration induced a prolonged QTc interval (above 480 ms, p < 0.05 compared to before-treatment, based on a McNemar test). Furthermore, famotidine induced QT prolongations in 10 out of 14 patients with hypocalcemia and 11 out of 13 patients with hypomagnesemia [difference of mean between before and after famotidine administration; 38.00 ms (95 % confidence interval 2.72–73.28) and 67.08 ms (95 % confidence interval 24.94–109.21), p < 0.05 and p < 0.01 by paired t test, respectively]. In vitro, the IC₅₀ of famotidine for human-ether-a-go-go gene (hERG) channel inhibition was higher than 100 μM as determined by automated patch clamp hERG current assay, implying that hERG channel inhibition is not the underlying mechanism for QT prolongation. These results suggest that famotidine administration increases a proarrhythmic potential, especially in subjects with electrolytes imbalance.