R. G. MungerM. P. JonesR. J. PrineasR. S. CrowS. ChangbumrungV. WangsuphachartV. KeaneUniversity of Iowa Carver College of MedicineUniversity of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of MedicineUniversity of Minnesota School of Public HealthMahidol UniversityOrganisation internationale pour les migrations2018-08-102018-08-101991-08-03The Lancet. Vol.338, No.8762 (1991), 280-281014067362-s2.0-0025851084https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/123456789/22124Sudden death in sleep occurs in substantial numbers among young men in South-East Asia. The frequencies of electrocardiographic abnormalities were measured in groups with varying risks of such sudden death. The mean heart-rate-corrected QT interval (QTc) was significantly (p<0·05) greater among 123 Laotian refugees in Thailand at high risk (405 [95% confidence interval 397-413] ms) than in 77 Laotian refugees in the United States at lower risk (364 [359-369] ms) and 199 non-Asian US residents at negligible risk (358 [354-362] ms). Among refugees in Thailand, prolonged QTc interval was associated with poor thiamine status and a history of seizure-like episodes in sleep. Thiamine deficiency may be a cause of prolonged QT interval and sudden death in this region. © 1991.Mahidol UniversityMedicineArticleSCOPUS10.1016/0140-6736(91)90419-P