Risk factors for long QT syndrome include the following:

- female sex

- increasing age

- liver or renal impairment

- family history of congenital long QT syndrome

- pre-existing cardiovascular disease

- electrolyte imbalance: especially hypokalemia, hypocalcemia, hypomagnesemia

- concurrent administration of interacting drugs

Anorexia nervosa has been associated with sudden death, possibly due to QT prolongation. It can lead a person to have dangerous electrolyte imbalances, leading to acquired long QT syndrome and can in turn result in sudden cardiac death. This can develop over a prolonged period of time, and the risk is further heightened when feeding resumes after a period of abstaining from consumption. Care must be taken under such circumstances to avoid complications of refeeding syndrome.

The risk for untreated LQTS patients having events (syncopes or cardiac arrest) can be predicted from their genotype (LQT1-8), gender, and corrected QT interval.

- High risk (> 50%) - QTc > 500 ms, LQT1, LQT2, and LQT3 (males)

- Intermediate risk (30-50%) - QTc > 500 ms, LQT3 (females) or QTc < 500 ms, LQT2 (females) and LQT3

- Low risk (< 30%) - QTc < 500 ms, LQT1 and LQT2 (males)

A 1992 study reported that mortality for symptomatic, untreated patients was 20% within the first year and 50% within the first 10 years after the initial syncope.

Individuals with LGL syndrome do not carry an increased risk of sudden death. The only morbidity associated with the syndrome is the occurrence of paroxysmal episodes of tachycardia which may be of several types, including sinus tachycardia, supraventricular tachycardia, atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, or even ventricular tachycardia.

Studies have shown that patients with Pacemaker syndrome and/or with sick sinus syndrome are at higher risk of developing fatal complications that calls for the patients to be carefully monitored in the ICU. Complications include atrial fibrillation, thrombo-embolic events, and heart failure.

The reported of pacemaker syndrome has ranged from 2% to 83%. The wide range of reported incidence is likely attributable to two factors which are the criteria used to define pacemaker syndrome and the therapy used to resolve that diagnosis.

The number of people affected by Brugada ECG is higher in Asia than in the United States and Europe. Specifically, Brugada Type 1 ECG appears more frequently in Asia (0%–0.36% of the population) and Europe (0%–0.25%) than in the United States (0.03%). Type 2 and Type 3 ECG is more prevalent in Asia (0.12%–2.23%) than in Europe (0.0%–0.6%) or the United States (0.02%).

It is the most common cause of sudden death in young men without known underlying cardiac disease in Thailand and Laos.

The cause of short QT syndrome is unclear at this time. A current hypothesis is that short QT syndrome is due to increased activity of outward potassium currents in phase 2 and 3 of the cardiac action potential. This would cause a shortening of the plateau phase of the action potential (phase 2), causing a shortening of the overall action potential, leading to an overall shortening of refractory periods and the QT interval.

In the families afflicted by short QT syndrome, mutations have been described in three genes, KvLQT1, the "human ether-a-go-go gene (HERG)", and KCNJ2.

Some individuals with short QT syndrome frequently complain of palpitations and may have unexplained syncope (loss of consciousness). Mutations in the "KCNH2", "KCNJ2", and "KCNQ1" genes cause short QT syndrome. These genes provide instructions for making proteins that act as channels across the cell membrane. These channels transport positively charged atoms (ions) of potassium into and out of cells. In cardiac muscle, these ion channels play critical roles in maintaining the heart's normal rhythm. Mutations in the "KCNH2", "KCNJ2", or "KCNQ1" gene increase the activity of the channels, which changes the flow of potassium ions between cells. This disruption in ion transport alters the way the heart beats, leading to the abnormal heart rhythm characteristic of short QT syndrome. Short QT syndrome appears to have an autosomal dominant pattern of inheritance.

Short QT syndrome is associated with an increased risk of sudden cardiac death, most likely due to ventricular fibrillation.

Brugada syndrome (BrS) is a genetic condition that results in abnormal electrical activity within the heart, increasing the risk of sudden cardiac death. Those affected may have episodes of passing out. Typically this occurs when a person is at rest.

It is often inherited from a person's parent with about a quarter of people having a family history. Some cases may be due to a new mutation or certain medications. The abnormal heart rhythms can be triggered by a fever or increased vagal tone. Diagnosis is typically by electrocardiogram (ECG), however, the abnormalities may not be consistently present.

Treatment may be with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD). Isoproterenol may be used in those who are acutely unstable. In those without symptoms the risk of death is much lower, and how to treat this group is unclear. Testing people's family members may be recommended.

Between 1 and 30 per 10,000 people are affected. Onset of symptoms is usually in adulthood. It is more common in people of Asian descent. Males are more commonly affected than females. It is named after the Spanish cardiologists Pedro and Josep Brugada who described the condition in 1992. Their brother Ramon Brugada described the underlying genetics in 1998.

If untreated, this abnormal heart rhythm can lead to dizziness, chest pain, a sensation of fluttering or pounding in the chest (palpitations), shortness of breath, or fainting (syncope). Atrial fibrillation also increases the risk of stroke. Complications of familial atrial fibrillation can occur at any age, although some people with this heart condition never experience any health problems associated with the disorder.

Atrial fibrillation is the most common type of sustained abnormal heart rhythm (arrhythmia), affecting more than 3 million people in the United States. The risk of developing this irregular heart rhythm increases with age. The incidence of the familial form of atrial fibrillation is unknown; however, recent studies suggest that up to 30 percent of all people with atrial fibrillation may have a history of the condition in their family.

Lown–Ganong–Levine syndrome (LGL) is a pre-excitation syndrome of the heart due to abnormal electrical communication between the atria and the ventricles. Once thought to involve an accessory conduction pathway, it is grouped with Wolff–Parkinson–White syndrome as an atrioventricular re-entrant tachycardia (AVRT). Individuals with LGL syndrome have a short PR interval with normal QRS complexes and paroxysms of clinically-significant tachycardia. The syndrome is named after Bernard Lown, William Francis Ganong, Jr., and Samuel A. Levine.

Individuals with a short PR interval found incidentally on EKG were once thought to have LGL syndrome. However, subsequent studies have shown that a short PR interval in the absence of symptomatic tachycardia is simply a benign EKG variant.

It can result in many abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias), including sinus arrest, sinus node exit block, sinus bradycardia, and other types of bradycardia (slow heart rate).

Sick sinus syndrome may also be associated with tachycardias (fast heart rate) such as atrial tachycardia (PAT) and atrial fibrillation. Tachycardias that occur with sick sinus syndrome are characterized by a long pause after the tachycardia. Sick sinus syndrome is also associated with azygos continuation of interrupted inferior vena cava.

Sick sinus syndrome is a relatively uncommon syndrome in the young and middle age population. Sick sinus syndrome is more common in elderly adults, where the cause is often a non-specific, scar-like degeneration of the cardiac conduction system. Cardiac surgery, especially to the atria, is a common cause of sick sinus syndrome in children.

This condition is incredibly rare, with only 100 cases reported worldwide, however there are thought to be many cases that have been left undiagnosed. It is either inherited from at least one parent containing the mutated gene. or it can be gained through the mutation of the KCNJ2 gene.

Knowledge that TdP may occur in patients taking certain prescription drugs has been both a major liability and reason for retirement of these medications from the marketplace. Examples of compounds linked to clinical observations of TdP include amiodarone, fluoroquinolones, methadone, lithium, chloroquine, erythromycin, amphetamine, ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, methylphenidate, and phenothiazines. It has also been shown as a side effect of certain anti-arrhythmic medications, such as sotalol, procainamide, and quinidine. The gastrokinetic drug cisapride (Propulsid) was withdrawn from the US market in 2000 after it was linked to deaths caused by long QT syndrome-induced torsades de pointes. In many cases, this effect can be directly linked to QT prolongation mediated predominantly by inhibition of the hERG channel.

In September 2011 (subsequently updated in March 2012 and February 2013), the FDA issued a warning concerning increased incidence of QT prolongation in patients prescribed doses of the antidepressant Celexa (citalopram) above 40 mg per day, considered the maximum allowable dosage, thereby increasing the risk of Torsades. However, a study, "Evaluation of the FDA Warning Against Prescribing Citalopram at Doses Exceeding 40 mg," reported no increased risk of abnormal arrhythmias, thus questioning the validity of the FDA's warning.

Common causes for torsades de pointes include diarrhea, low blood magnesium, and low blood potassium. It is commonly seen in malnourished individuals and chronic alcoholics, due to a deficiency in potassium and/or magnesium. Certain combinations of drugs resulting in drug interactions can contribute to torsades de pointes risk. QT prolonging medications such as clarithromycin, levofloxacin, or haloperidol, when taken concurrently with cytochrome P450 inhibitors, such as fluoxetine, cimetidine, or particular foods including grapefruit, can result in higher-than-normal levels of medications that prolong the QT interval in the bloodstream and therefore increase a person's risk of developing torsades de pointes. In addition, inherited long QT syndrome significantly increases the risk of episodes of TdP.

Andersen–Tawil syndrome, also called Andersen syndrome and Long QT syndrome 7, is a form of long QT syndrome. It is a rare genetic disorder, and is inherited in an autosomal dominant pattern and predisposes patients to cardiac arrhythmias. Jervell and Lange-Nielsen Syndrome is a similar disorder which is also associated with sensorineural hearing loss. It was first described by Ellen Damgaard Andersen.

It is associated with multiple genes:

Mutations in the "KCNQ1" gene cause familial atrial fibrillation. The "KCNE2" and "KCNJ2" genes are associated with familial atrial fibrillation. A small percentage of all cases of familial atrial fibrillation are associated with changes in the "KCNE2", "KCNJ2", and "KCNQ1" genes. These genes provide instructions for making proteins that act as channels across the cell membrane. These channels transport positively charged potassium ions into and out of cells. In heart muscle, the ion channels produced from the "KCNE2", "KCNJ2", and "KCNQ1" genes play critical roles in maintaining the heart's normal rhythm. Mutations in these genes have been identified in only a few families worldwide. These mutations increase the activity of the channels, which changes the flow of potassium ions between cells. This disruption in ion transport alters the way the heart beats, increasing the risk of syncope, stroke, and sudden death.

Most cases of atrial fibrillation are not caused by mutations in a single gene. This condition is often related to structural abnormalities of the heart or underlying heart disease. Additional risk factors for atrial fibrillation include high blood pressure (hypertension), diabetes mellitus, a previous stroke, or an accumulation of fatty deposits and scar-like tissue in the lining of the arteries (atherosclerosis). Although most cases of atrial fibrillation are not known to run in families, studies suggest that they may arise partly from genetic risk factors. Researchers are working to determine which genetic changes may influence the risk of atrial fibrillation.

Familial atrial fibrillation appears to be inherited in an autosomal dominant pattern, which means the defective gene is located on an autosome, and only one copy of the defective gene - inherited from one parent - is sufficient to cause the disorder.

Atrial fibrillation increases the risk of heart failure by 11 per 1000, kidney problems by 6 per 1000, death by 4 per 1000, stroke by 3 per 1000, and coronary heart disease by 1 per 1000. Women have a worse outcome overall than men. Evidence increasingly suggests that atrial fibrillation is independently associated with a higher risk of developing dementia.

Wolff–Parkinson–White syndrome (WPW) is a disorder due to a specific type of problem with the electrical system of the heart which has resulted in symptoms. About 40% of people with the electrical problem never develop symptoms. Symptoms can include an abnormally fast heartbeat, palpitations, shortness of breath, lightheadedness, or syncope. Rarely cardiac arrest may occur. The most common type of irregular heartbeat that occurs is known as paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia.

The cause of WPW is typically unknown. A small number of cases are due to a mutation of the PRKAG2 gene which may be inherited from a person's parents in an autosomal dominant fashion. The underlying mechanism involves an accessory electrical conduction pathway between the atria and the ventricles. It is associated with other conditions such as Ebstein anomaly and hypokalemic periodic paralysis. Diagnosis is typically when an electrocardiogram (ECG) show a short PR interval and a delta wave. It is a type of pre-excitation syndromes.

WPW syndrome is treated with either medications or radiofrequency catheter ablation. It affects between 0.1 and 0.3% in the population. The risk of death in those without symptoms is about 0.5% per year in children and 0.1% per year in adults. In those without symptoms ongoing observation may be reasonable. In those with WPW complicated by atrial fibrillation, cardioversion or the medication procainamide may be used. The condition is named after Louis Wolff, John Parkinson, and Paul Dudley White who described the ECG findings in 1930.

Hypertension, or abnormally high blood pressure, often signifies an elevated level of both psychological and physiological stress. Often, hypertension goes hand in hand with various atrial fibrillations including premature atrial contractions (PACs). Additional factors that may contribute to spontaneous premature atrial contractions could be:

- Increased age

- Abnormal body height

- History of cardiovascular disease (CV)

- Abnormal ANP levels

- Elevated cholesterol

In otherwise healthy patients, occasional premature atrial contractions are a common and normal finding and do not indicate any particular health risk. Rarely, in patients with other underlying structural heart problems, PACs can trigger a more serious arrhythmia such as atrial flutter or atrial fibrillation. In otherwise healthy people, PACs usually disappear with adolescence.

Isolated first-degree heart block has no direct clinical consequences. There are no symptoms or signs associated with it. It was originally thought of as having a benign prognosis. In the Framingham Heart Study, however, the presence of a prolonged PR interval or first degree AV block doubled the risk of developing atrial fibrillation (irregular heart beat), tripled the risk of requiring an artificial pacemaker, and was associated with a small increase in mortality. This risk was proportional to the degree of PR prolongation.

A subset of individuals with the triad of first-degree heart block, right bundle branch block, and either left anterior fascicular block or left posterior fascicular block (known as trifascicular block) may be at an increased risk of progression to complete heart block.

The definitive treatment of WPW is the destruction of the abnormal electrical pathway by radiofrequency catheter ablation. This procedure is performed by cardiac electrophysiologists. Radiofrequency catheter ablation is not performed in all individuals with WPW because inherent risks are involved in the procedure. When performed by an experienced electrophysiologist, radiofrequency ablation has a high success rate. Findings from 1994 indicate success rates of as high as 95% in people treated with radiofrequency catheter ablation for WPW. If radiofrequency catheter ablation is successfully performed, the condition is generally considered cured. Recurrence rates are typically less than 5% after a successful ablation. The one caveat is that individuals with underlying Ebstein's anomaly may develop additional accessory pathways during progression of their disease.

Ashman phenomenon, also known as Ashman beats, describes a particular type of wide QRS complex, often seen isolated that is typically seen in atrial fibrillation. It is more often misinterpreted as a premature ventricular complex.

It is named for Richard Ashman (of New Orleans) (1890 –1969), after first being described by Gouaux and Ashman in 1947.