Computerized intra-QRS fragmentation independently predicted cardiac deaths (HR 8.7; 95% CI 3.0-25.6) and heart failure hospitalizations (HR 3.8; 95% CI 1.6-9.3) after myocardial infarction.
Cohort (n=158)
Does computerized intra-QRS fragmentation analysis predict cardiac deaths and heart failure hospitalizations in post-MI patients with reduced LVEF better than QRS duration?
Computerized intra-QRS fragmentation analysis is a strong independent predictor of cardiac death and heart failure hospitalization in post-MI patients with reduced LVEF, outperforming standard QRS duration.
Hazard Ratio: 8.7 (95% CI 3–25.6)
BACKGROUND: Increased QRS fragmentation in visual inspection of 12-lead ECG has shown association with cardiac events in postmyocardial infarction (MI) patients. We investigated user-independent computerized intra-QRS fragmentation analysis in prediction of cardiac deaths and heart failure (HF) hospitalizations after MI. METHODS: Patients (n = 158) with recent MI and reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) were studied. A 120-lead body surface potential mapping was performed at hospital discharge. Intra-QRS fragmentation was computed as the number of extrema (fragmentation index FI) in QRS. QRS duration (QRSd) was computed for comparison. RESULTS: During a mean follow-up of 50 months 15 patients suffered cardiac death and 23 were hospitalized for HF. Using the mean + 1 SD as cut-point both parameters were univariate predictors of both end-points. In multivariate analysis including age, gender, LVEF, previous MI, bundle branch block, atrial fibrillation, and diabetes FI was an independent predictor for cardiac deaths (HR 8.7, CI 3.0-25.6) and HF hospitalizations (HR 3.8, CI 1.6-9.3) whereas QRSd only predicted HF hospitalizations (HR 4.6, CI 2.0-10.7). In comparison to QRSd, FI showed better positive (PPA) and equal negative (NPA) predictive accuracy for both end-points, and PPA was further improved when combined to LVEF < 40%. Limiting fragmentation analysis to 12-lead ECG or a randomly selected 8-lead set instead of all 120 leads resulted in an almost similar prediction. CONCLUSIONS: Increased QRS fragmentation in post-MI patients predicts cardiac deaths and HF progression. A computer-based fragmentation analysis is a stronger predictor than QRSd.
Korhonen et al. (Thu,) conducted a cohort in Recent myocardial infarction with reduced LVEF (n=158). Computerized intra-QRS fragmentation (FI) vs. Lower fragmentation (below mean + 1 SD) was evaluated on Cardiac deaths (HR 8.7, 95% CI 3.0-25.6). Computerized intra-QRS fragmentation independently predicted cardiac deaths (HR 8.7; 95% CI 3.0-25.6) and heart failure hospitalizations (HR 3.8; 95% CI 1.6-9.3) after myocardial infarction.