Key result
Fragmented QRS or J waves in idiopathic VF linked to ~4-fold higher clinical event rates.
Why the study?
Does the presence of fragmented QRS complexes or J waves predict recurrent clinical cardiac events in patients with idiopathic ventricular fibrillation?
Observational (n=162)
No
Does the presence of fragmented QRS complexes or J waves predict recurrent clinical cardiac events in patients with idiopathic ventricular fibrillation?
Absolute Event Rate: 47.3% vs 11.5%
p-value: p=0.009
In patients with idiopathic ventricular fibrillation, the presence of fragmented QRS complexes or J waves on baseline ECG is associated with a significantly higher risk of recurrent ventricular arrhythmias.
May support ECG-based risk stratification in idiopathic VF; hypothesis-generating and requires prospective validation before guiding therapy.
BACKGROUND: Idiopathic ventricular fibrillation (IVF) can cause sudden cardiac death. Previous studies have reported that J waves and fragmented QRS complexes (f-QRS) are arrhythmogenic markers and predictors of cardiac events. We evaluated the prevalence and clinical significance of J waves and f-QRS in patients with IVF. METHODS: We studied 81 patients who received an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) due to IVF between October 1999 and June 2015. We assessed the prevalence of J waves and f-QRS using electrocardiograms (ECGs). Patients were classified into three groups: J wave group (n = 35), f-QRS group (n = 20), or normal ECG group (n = 26). The control group included 81 subjects without heart disease who were matched for age, sex, and race. We compared syncope, sudden cardiac arrest, and appropriate ICD shock between the three groups. RESULTS: The follow-up duration was 4.1 years. J waves and f-QRS were more frequent in patients with IVF than in control subjects (43.2%, 21% vs. 24.7%, 19.7%, P < 0.001). Out of the three groups, clinical cardiac events were most frequent in the f-QRS group (50% vs. 45.7% vs. 11.5%, P = 0.028). A comparison of the combined group of J wave and f-QRS versus the normal ECG group revealed that the combined group had a higher frequency of clinical cardiac events than the normal ECG group (47.3% vs. 11.5%, respectively, P = 0.009). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with IVF had higher prevalence of f-QRS or J waves. And patients with f-QRS or J waves were at higher risk of recurrent ventricular fibrillation.
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Seong et al. (2018) conducted an observational in Idiopathic ventricular fibrillation (n=162). Fragmented QRS complexes or J waves vs. Normal ECG (no fragmented QRS or J waves) was evaluated on Clinical cardiac events (cardiac death, syncope, and recurrent VF episodes) (p=0.009). Fragmented QRS complexes or J waves in patients with idiopathic ventricular fibrillation were associated with a higher rate of clinical cardiac events compared to a normal ECG (47.3% vs. 11.5%).
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