The study was cross-sectional in design. During a 14-month period, informed consent was obtained from subjects selected in an age-stratified random sample of refugees scheduled for routine medical screening. Blood samples, 12-lead and 24-hour ECGs, and interview data were collected to test the following hypotheses: (1) mean QTc was greater in men than women, (2) mean QTc was greater in men aged 30-39 years than in men younger or older; no similar relationship was expected among women, (3) QTc was positively correlated with poor thiamine status, measured by erythrocyte transketolase activity, (4-6) QTc was negatively correlated with serum levels of potassium, magnesium, and total calcium, and (7) QTc was associated with abnormalities of autonomic control of the heart, as indicated by power spectral analysis of heart rate variability. Secondary aims included studying interactions of thiamine status and electrolytes in the prolongation of QTc, dynamic analysis of QT variation by heart rate level in 24-hr ECGs, and collection of blood specimens for later genetic studies