Actively Recruiting
Do 'Known' QT-prolonging Medications Cause Major Adverse Cardiac Events in Hospitalized Adults? The QTP-MACE Study
Led by St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton · Updated on 2026-01-28
990000
Participants Needed
2
Research Sites
N/A
Total Duration
On this page
Sponsors
S
St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton
Lead Sponsor
M
McMaster University
Collaborating Sponsor
AI-Summary
What this Trial Is About
This research aims to understand whether medications known to prolong the QT interval (QTPmeds) actually increase the risk of major adverse cardiac events (MACE) in hospitalized adult patients. These medications are widely flagged in healthcare settings due to potential serious heart risks, but the evidence linking them to real harms is limited. The study uses a large database of nearly one million adult hospital patients from Ontario to explore this important patient safety issue. Researchers will also apply machine learning to identify which patient or treatment factors best predict these risks. The study compares patients exposed to known QT-prolonging drugs during hospitalization with those who were not exposed. Data from the Ontario GEMINI network and Epic-Dovetale electronic medical records (EMRs) will be analyzed, focusing on events such as death, cardiac arrest, ventricular arrhythmias, and syncope occurring up to about four weeks after first drug exposure. The study will examine time periods when patients were exposed or not exposed to these medications during the same hospital stay to better estimate risk. Participants will be adult patients admitted to participating hospitals between December 2017 and March 2025. Researchers will review anonymized hospital EMR data, including medication exposures and outcomes. They will measure the occurrence of major cardiac events and use advanced data methods to predict risk factors. The study seeks to improve the accuracy of medication alerts, enhance patient safety, and reduce unnecessary healthcare disruptions related to these drug warnings.
CONDITIONS
Brief Title
Do QT-Prolonging Drugs Cause Major Adverse Cardiac Events in Hospitalized Adults?
Who Can Participate
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if you...
- Adult patients 18 years of age or older
- Admitted to St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton or GEMINI hospitals between December 2017 and March 2025
You will not qualify if you...
- Patients younger than 18 years old
- Outpatient encounters
AI-Screening
AI-Powered Screening
Complete this quick 3-step screening to check your eligibility
Your Study Journey
Duration - 2 to 4 weeks
Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial.
No visits; eligibility determined from hospital records
Duration - Up to 4 weeks (duration of hospitalization)
Participants who are hospitalized are observed for exposure to QT-prolonging medications and major adverse cardiac events during their hospital stay.
No in-person visits; data collected from electronic medical records during hospitalization
Trial Site Locations
Total: 2 locations
1
St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, L8N 1Y3
Actively Recruiting
2
GEMINI
Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5B 1T8
Actively Recruiting
Research Team
A
Anne M Holbrook, MD,PharmD,MSc,FRCPC
How is the study designed?
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Masking
N/A
Allocation
N/A
Model
N/A
Primary Purpose
N/A
Number of Arms
2
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