Abstract
Background
Many electrocardiographic (ECG) patterns may be present in acute pulmonary embolism (PE), but their prevalence and association with in hospital mortality (IHM) are less well established.
Objective
Assess the correlation between different ECG patterns and IHM in patients (Pts) with PE using a whole country dataset.
Methods
Prospective multicenter registry which included Pts with acute PE hospitalized in 75 academic centers from October 2016 to November 2017. We considered the following ECG patterns: sinus tachycardia, pulmonary P waves, Q waves in DII-aVF leads, negative T waves in V1-V4, ST segment elevation in aVR and V1, atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter (AF/AF), right bundle branch block (RBBB), ST segment depression, S1Q3T3 pattern or Qr in V1. Statistical analysis was carried out using de STATA version 13.1. A value of p<0.0.5 was considered statistically significant.
Results
We included 684 Pts; mean age 63.8±16.7 years (43% male). Global IHM was 12%. The most prevalent ECG patterns were sinus tachycardia (51.7%), S1Q3T3 (24.5%), negative T waves in V1- V4 (16%), RBBB (9.9%), AF/AF (8.6%). Four ECG patterns remained statistically significant predictors of IHM on multivariate analysis: AF/AF (OR: 3.81; CI 95% 1.82–7.95, p<0.01), pulmonary P waves (OR: 3.81; CI 95% 1.2–12, p<0.04), RBBB (OR: 2.71; CI 95% 1.39–5.30, p<0.01) and sinus tachycardia (OR: 2.05; CI 95% 1.18–3.54, p<0.04).
ECG pattern and in-hospital mortality.Multivariate analysis Electrocardiographic pattern OR CI 95% p value AF/AF 3.81 1.82–7.95 <0.01 Pulmonary P waves 3.81 1.20–12.00 <0.04 RBBB 2.71 1.39–5.30 <0.01 Sinus tachycardia 2.05 1.18–3.54 <0.04 Q waves in DII-aVF 0.93 0.32–2.64 0.89 ST segment depression 1.07 0.39–2.96 0.80 Negative T waves in V1-V4 0.93 0.47–1.81 0.83 S1Q3T3 pattern 0.75 0.39–1.41 0.37 Qr in V1 2.07 0.63–6.73 0.22 ST segment elevation in aVR 2.38 0.79–7.15 0.12
Conclusions
We corroborate the usefulness of the ECG as a prognostic tool in acute PE. Four simple ECG patterns (AF/AF, Pulmonary P waves, RBBB and sinus tachycardia) were associated with a higher IHM and therefore should be considered for PE risk stratification.
Significance of ST-segment deviation in patients with acute pulmonary embolism and negative T waves
