Possibilities for predicting ventricular tachyarrhythmias in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction based on surface electrocardiography. First results from a single-center prospective study

According to current clinical guidelines, the risk of life-threatening ventricular tachyarrhythmias (VTAs) in patients with heart failure (HF) is determined by left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). The available clinical and experimental data indicate the imperfection of this one-factor approach, which specifies the need to search for new predictors of VTAs. In this prospective study, we performed a comparative analysis of surface electrocardiographic parameters in HF patients with LVEF ≤35% without syncope or sustained ventricular arrhythmias in history, who were implanted with cardioverter defibrillator as a primary prevention of sudden cardiac death. During the two-year follow-up, the primary endpoint (new-onset persistent VTA episode, or VTA/ventricular fibrillation that required electrotherapy) was recorded in 42 patients (25,5%). The secondary endpoint (an increase in LVEF by 5% or more of the initial level against the background of cardiac resynchronization therapy) was more often recorded in the group of patients without VTAs (41 (33%) vs 4 (9,5%), p=0,005). The studied cohort of patients was characterized by a left axis deviation (72%), LV hypertrophy signs (84%), impaired intra-atrial (P wave duration of 120 (101-120) ms) and intraventricular conduction (QRS duration of 140 (110-180) ms), ventricular electrical systole prolongation (QTcor — 465 (438-504) ms). Differences between the groups divided depending on reaching the primary endpoint in terms of the Cornell product, Cornell voltage index and ICEB, as well as the detection rate of complete left bundle branch block morphology had levels of significance close to critical (p=0,09; p=0,05; p=0,1; p=0,09, respectively). The multivariate predictive model included following factors: Cornell product, Tp-Te/ QRS, P wave duration (diagnostic efficiency of the model was 60%: sensitivity, 61,1%, specificity, 59,6%; p=0,007).

Discrepancy between left ventricular hypertrophy by echocardiography and electrocardiographic hypertrophy: clinical characteristics and outcomes

BackgroundThe clinical significance of the discrepancy between left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) by echocardiography and ECG remains to be elucidated.MethodsAfter excluding patients who presented with pacemaker placement, QRS duration ≥120 ms and cardiomyopathy and moderate to severe valvular disease, we retrospectively analysed 3212 patients who had undergone both scheduled transthoracic echocardiography (echo) and ECG in a hospital-based population. Cornell product >2440 mm · ms was defined as ECG-based LVH; left ventricular mass index >115 g/m2 for men and >95 g/m2 for women was defined as echo-based LVH. The study population was categorised into four groups: patients with both ECG-based and echo-based LVH (N=131, 4.1%), those with only echo-based LVH (N=156, 4.9%), those with only ECG-based LVH (N=409, 12.7%) and those with no LVH (N=2516, 78.3%).ResultsThe cumulative 3-year incidences of a composite of all-cause death and major adverse cardiovascular events were 32.0%, 33.8%, 19.2% and 15.7%, respectively. After adjusting for confounders, the HRs relative to that in no LVH were 1.63 (95% CI 1.16 to 2.28), 1.68 (95% CI 1.23 to 2.30) and 1.09 (95% CI 0.85 to 1.41) in patients with both ECG-based and echo-based LVH, those with only echo-based LVH, and those with only ECG-based LVH, respectively.ConclusionsEcho-based LVH without ECG-based LVH was associated with a significant risk of adverse clinical events, and the risk was comparable to that in patients with both echo-based and ECG-based LVH.

Study of Cardiac Autonomic Neuropathy and Left Ventricular Hypertrophy in type-II diabetic patients

Cardiac autonomic neuropathy (CAN) is a frequent and intractable complication of diabetes. Reduction in heart rate variability (HRV) is the first sign of CAN in its subclinical stage. Autonomic imbalance and hyperglycaemia in diabetes are associated with cardiovascular structural and functional modifications, which lead to left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). The study was undertaken to assess the changes in HRV and left ventricular mass in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients. The case-control study was conducted on 78 T2DM subjects and 78 age & sex-matched healthy controls. CAN be assessed by frequency and time-domain parameters of HRV and LVH was measured using various ECG criteria including Cornell voltage, Cornell product, Sokolow-Lyon voltage, and Romhilt-Estes point score. All the frequency and time-domain parameters of HRV except resting heart rate, normalized LF, and LF/HF ratio were significantly reduced in T2DM patients compared to healthy controls. The prevalence of ECG-LVH was 25.7% using any single criteria and 12.2% with all the criteria. The highest prevalence (24.3%) was noted with Cornell product and Sokolow-Lyon voltage criteria, followed by Romhilt-Estes point score (17.6%) and Cornell voltage criteria (16.2%). Reduction in overall HRV with less high-frequency power and high LF/HF ratio suggests parasympathetic dysfunction and sympathetic predominance. A significant LVH was noted with ECG-based electric criteria in T2DM patients. The study suggests that T2DM patients should be subjected to diagnostic HRV and ECG to identify the early occurrence of CAN and LVH.

Performance of Electrocardiographic Criteria for Echocardiographically Diagnosed Left Ventricular Hypertrophy in Chinese Hypertensive Patients

BACKGROUND Performance of electrocardiographic (ECG) criteria for echocardiographically diagnosed left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) in Chinese hypertensive patients is not well known. We investigated the accuracy of various ECG criteria for the diagnosis of the echocardiographic LVH according to the new cutoff values of left ventricular mass (LVM) index (>115 g/m2 for men and >95 g/m2 for women) in Chinese hypertensive patients. METHODS Our study included 702 consecutive hypertensive inpatients including 92 (13.1%) concentric and 121 (17.2%) eccentric LVH on standard echocardiography. Diagnostic accuracy of 7 ECG criteria was evaluated by calculating sensitivity and specificity and by using the receiver operating characteristic curves. RESULTS The ECG criteria for the detection of the echocardiographically defined LVH had a sensitivity of 15%–31.9% and specificity of 91.6%–99.2% overall, 20.7%–43.5% and 91.6%–99.2% concentric, and 7.4%–23.1% and 91.6%–99.2% eccentric. ECG diagnosis of LVH defined as the positive diagnosis of any of 4 ECG criteria including Sokolow–Lyon voltage, Cornell voltage, Cornell product, and RavL voltage had a sensitivity of 54% and specificity of 86.3% overall, 71.7% and 86.3% concentric, and 40.5% and 86.3% eccentric. After adjustment for confounding factors, various ECG criteria were significantly correlated with LVM, with standardized β coefficients from 0.20 to 0.39 (P < 0.001) and the highest coefficient for the Cornell product criterion. CONCLUSIONS All ECG LVH indexes had low sensitivity and high specificity in Chinese hypertensive patients. Combination of 4 or all ECG criteria might improve sensitivity without any loss of specificity.

Features of arterial hypertension patients with discrepancies in vectorcardiographic and echocardiographic conclusions about the presence of left ventricular hypertrophy [Original Article]

Aim. To determine the features of patients with arterial hypertension (AH) with a discrepancy of electrocardiographic, including vectorcardiographic (VCG) and echocardiographic conclusions about the presence of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). Materials and methods. 140 patients with AH were examined (mean age 59.8±12.0 years, 33.6% of men). The Sokolov- Lyon criterion, the Cornell product, the sum of the amplitudes of the R wave in lead X and the S wave in lead Z of the synthesized vectorcardiogram (RX+SZ) and the amplitude of the maximal QRS vector (MQRS) were analyzed. Left ventriclular myocardial mass (LVMM) was calculated using the ASE formula, LVMM/height2.7 more than 44 g/m2.7 in women and more than 48 g/m2.7 in men was considered a criterion for LVH.Results. In patients with AH, pathological RX+SZ and MQRS values were significantly more frequent compared with the Sokolov-Lyon criterion and the Cornell product. Pathological values of RX+SZ and MQRS were met both in patients with an increased and with a normal indexed LVMM. Patients with "true-positive" VCG findings compared with "false-negative" had significantly larger values of the relative wall thickness, LVMM and indexed LVMM. Patients with “false positive” VCG findings compared with “true-negative” were more likely to have left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (90% and 68%, respectively). Patients with the presence of VCG criteria for LVH, both with normal and with an increased indexed LVMM, were characterized by higher values of systolic blood pressure and higher values of the QRS duration. Conclusion. In patients with arterial hypertension, pathological values of vectorcardiographic indices were significantly more frequent compared with the Sokolov-Lyon criterion and the Cornell product. VCG indices allowed to separate groups of patients with the presence and absence of diastolic dysfunction of the left ventricle, as well as groups of patients with normal and elevated values of systolic blood pressure.

Cornell product is an ECG marker of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction

ObjectiveECG markers of heart failure (HF) with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) are lacking. We hypothesised that the Cornell product (CP) is a risk marker of HFpEF and has prognostic utility in HFpEF.MethodsCP =[(amplitude of R wave in aVL+depth of S wave in V3)×QRS] was measured on baseline 12-lead ECG in a prospective Asian population-based study of 606 healthy controls (aged 55±10 years, 45% men), 221 hypertensive controls (62±9 years, 58% men) and 242 HFpEF (68±12 years, 49% men); all with EF ≥50% and followed for 2 years for all-cause mortality and HF hospitalisations.ResultsCP increased across groups from healthy controls to hypertensive controls to HFpEF, and distinguished between HFpEF and hypertension with an optimal cut-off of ≥1800 mm*ms (sensitivity 40%, specificity 85%). Age, male sex, systolic blood pressure (SBP) and heart rate were independent predictors of CP ≥1800 mm*ms, and CP was associated with echocardiographic E/e′ (r=0.27, p<0.01) and left ventricular mass index (r=0.46, p<0.01). Adjusting for clinical and echocardiographic variables and log N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), CP ≥1800 mm*ms was significantly associated with HFpEF (adjusted OR 2.7, 95% CI 1.0 to 7.0). At 2-year follow-up, there were 29 deaths and 61 HF hospitalisations, all within the HFpEF group. Even after adjusting for log NT-proBNP, clinical and echocardiographic variables, CP ≥1800 mm*ms remained strongly associated with a higher composite endpoint of all-cause mortality and HF hospitalisations (adjusted HR 2.1, 95% CI 1.2 to 3.5).ConclusionThe Cornell product is an easily applicable ECG marker of HFpEF and predicts poor prognosis by reflecting the severity of diastolic dysfunction and LV hypertrophy.

The diagnostic value of electrocardiographic criteria for left ventricular hypertrophy in essential arterial hypertension alone and in combination with coronary heart disease

Objective: to evaluate the diagnostic significance of the electrocardiographic (ECG) criteria for left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) in 12 leads in patients with essential arterial hypertension (AH) and in AH in combination with ischemic heart disease (IHD) compared with echocardiography (EchoCG) data. Materials and methods: ECG and EchoCG were carried out in 165 patients with AH (n = 139) and AH with concommitant IHD (n=26). Results: EchoCG signs of LVH ("EchoCG +") were detected in 72 (51,7%) patients with AH and in 12 (46,1 %) patients in AH + IHD. In the EchoCG + group the electrocardiographic signs of LVH (Sokolov-Lyon index, Cornell product, Cornell index) were determined in 37 (30,5 %) hypertensive patients and in no case in the AH + IHD group. In the "EchoCG-" group, electrocardiographic signs of LVH were determined in 8 hypertensive patients and two in the AH + CHD group. The use of additional voltage criteria for LVH in the frontal plane leads (RI > 15 mm, R I + S III > 25 mm, R aVL > 12 mm) increased the detection of LVH from 30,5 % (n=22) to 51,3 % (n=37). The false negative ECG diagnosis of LVH was influenced by: positional features, interventricular conduction defect, metabolic disorders and high index body mass. Conclusion: The Sokolov-Lyon index, the Cornell index, the Cornell product have low sensitivity in the diagnosis of LVH (30,5 %). Adding the frontal plane leads voltage criteria for LVH may contribute to increase in electocardiographic LVH detection (51,3 %). The decrease in the sensitivity of the ECG criteria for LVH is mainly caused by the positional features of the heart, interventricular conduction defect, metabolic disorders and high index body mass.