Why the study?
Does the use of a 0.5 Hz high-pass filter cause artifactual variations in the ST segment compared to a 0.05 Hz filter in asymptomatic patients?
Does the use of a 0.5 Hz high-pass filter cause artifactual variations in the ST segment compared to a 0.05 Hz filter in asymptomatic patients?
Using a 0.5 Hz high-pass filter in real-time ECG recording causes clinically significant artifactual ST segment alterations in 93% of patients, indicating that 0.05 Hz filters should be used to avoid confusion with acute coronary syndromes.
May warrant 0.05 Hz filters to avoid ST artifact misinterpretation; leaves open confirmation in larger prospective cohorts.
Introduction. Artifactual variations in the ST segment may lead to confusion with acute coronary syndromes. Objective. To evaluate how the technical characteristics of the recording mode may distort the ST segment. Material and Method. We made a series of electrocardiograms using different filter configurations in 45 asymptomatic patients. A spectral analysis of the electrocardiograms was made by discrete Fourier transforms, and an accurate recomposition of the ECG signal was obtained from the addition of successive harmonics. Digital high-pass filters of 0.05 and 0.5 Hz were used, and the resulting shapes were compared with the originals. Results. In 42 patients (93%) clinically significant alterations in ST segment level were detected. These changes were only seen in "real time mode" with high-pass filter of 0.5 Hz. Conclusions. Interpretation of the ST segment in "real time mode" should only be carried out using high-pass filters of 0.05 Hz.
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Fuentes et al. (2012) studied this question.
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