QRS prolongation on the signal-averaged electrocardiogram versus ST-segment changes on the 12-lead electrocardiogram: Which is the most sensitive electrocardiographic marker of myocardial ischemia?
Ap. Michaelides et al., QRS prolongation on the signal-averaged electrocardiogram versus ST-segment changes on the 12-lead electrocardiogram: Which is the most sensitive electrocardiographic marker of myocardial ischemia?, CLIN CARD, 22(6), 1999, pp. 403-408
Background ST-segment changes and QRS prolongation are electrocardiographic
(ECG) markers of myocardial ischemia.
Hypothesis: This study was undertaken to investigate the appearance of QRS
duration changes with or without concomitant ST-segment changes during a ty
pical anginal episode.
Methods: For this purpose, 126 patients underwent 12-lead surface ECG and s
ignal-averaged electrocardiogram (SAECG) during typical anginal pain as wel
l as at the time the patient was asymptomatic. In both periods, QRS duratio
n and ST-segment changes were evaluated. All patients underwent cardiac cat
heterization.
Results: Of the 126 patients, 108 (86%) had coronary artery disease (CAD),
whereas the remaining 18 (14%) patients had normal coronary arteriograms. D
uring typical anginal pain, 75 of the 108 (70%) patients with CAD and 2 of
the 18 (11%) patients with normal coronary arteriograms developed QRS prolo
ngation, whereas 60 of the 108 (56%) patients with CAD and 2 of the 18 (11%
) patients with normal coronary vessels developed ST-segment changes. Thus,
the sensitivities of QRS prolongation measured by SAECG and of ST-segment
changes on the surface ECG for the detection of myocardial ischemia were fo
und to be 70 and 56%, respectively, (p < 0.01), whereas the specificities w
ere both found to be 89% (p = NS).
Conclusions: During typical anginal pain, QRS prolongation on the SAECG is
more sensitive than are ST-segment changes on the ECG for the detection of
myocardial ischemia.