Frequency of fragmented QRS on ECG is increased in patients with rheumatoid arthritis without cardiovascular disease: a pilot study

Predicting the Progression of Very Early Systemic Sclerosis: Current Insights

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a complex autoimmune connective tissue disease with distinct pathological hallmarks (ie, inflammation, vasculopathy, fibrosis) that may predominate at different stages in the disease course with varying severity. Initial efforts to classify patients with SSc identified a subset of patients with very early SSc. These patients possessed signs of SSc (eg, Raynaud phenomenon, SSc specific autoantibodies and/or nailfold capillary abnormalities) without fulfilling complete SSc classification criteria. Recognizing the inherent value in early diagnosis and intervention in SSc, researchers have endeavored to identify risk factors for progression from very early SSc to definite SSc. The present review summarizes the clinical phenotype of patients with very early and early SSc. Through a scoping review of recent literature, this review also describes risk factors for progression to definite SSc with a focus on the specific clinical features that arise early in the SSc disease course (eg, diffuse cutaneous sclerosis, interstitial lung disease, esophageal dysfunction, renal crisis, cardiac involvement). In addition to clinical risk factors, this review provides evidence for how biological data (ie, serological, genomic, proteomic profiles, skin bioengineering methods) can be integrated into risk assessment models in the future. Furthering our understanding of biological features of very early SSc will undoubtedly provide novel insights into SSc pathogenesis and may illuminate new therapeutic targets to prevent progression of SSc.

High prevalence of fragmented QRS on electrocardiography in Japanese patients with diabetes irrespective of metabolic syndrome

AIMS/INTRODUCTION

Fragmented QRS (fQRS) on electrocardiography is a marker of myocardial fibrosis and myocardial scar formation. This study aimed to clarify the relationship of fQRS with diabetes mellitus and metabolic syndrome (MetS) in Japanese patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Approximately 702 individuals who had a routine health checkup at the Hokuriku Health Service Association (Toyama, Japan) in October 2014 were enrolled and categorized into one of the following four groups based on MetS and diabetes mellitus status: with diabetes mellitus (+) MetS+ (164 participants); diabetes mellitus+ without MetS (Mets-; 103 participants); diabetes mellitus- MetS+ (133 participants); and diabetes mellitus- MetS- (302 participants). fQRS was assessed using the results of electrocardiography.

RESULTS

The prevalence of fQRS was statistically higher in patients with diabetes mellitus+ MetS+ (37%) and diabetes mellitus+ MetS- (35%), than those with diabetes mellitus- MetS+ (14%) or diabetes mellitus- MetS- (10%; P < 0.0001). Significant differences were observed between the fQRS(+) and fQRS(-) groups for age, sex, waist circumference, heart rate, hypertension, hemoglobin A1c, total cholesterol, MetS and diabetes mellitus. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for traditional risk factors and diabetes mellitus was 0.72 (P = 0.0007, 95% confidence interval 0.67-0.76), and for traditional risk factors and MetS it was 0.67 (P = 0.28, 95% confidence interval 0.62-0.72). Patients with diabetes mellitus had more than threefold higher likelihood of showing fQRS (odds ratio 3.41; 95% confidence interval 2.25-5.22; P < 0.0001) compared with the reference group without diabetes mellitus, after adjusting for age, sex, dyslipidemia, hypertension and waist circumference.

CONCLUSIONS

fQRS was observed more frequently in diabetes mellitus patients than in MetS and control individuals. Diabetes mellitus was the most significant determinant for fQRS among MetS and other traditional metabolic risk factors.

Fragmented QRS complex in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus at the time of diagnosis and its relationship with disease activity

Objective

Cardiovascular disease is an important contributor to the mortality rate of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), which is related to SLE disease activity. Fragmented QRS (fQRS) complexes, defined by additional spikes in the QRS complex, are useful for identifying myocardial scars on electrocardiography and can be an independent predictor of cardiac events. We aimed to assess the relationship between disease activity in patients with SLE and fQRS at the time of diagnosis.

Methods

Forty-four patients with SLE were included. Patients with cardiac diseases, other rheumatic diseases, and prior treatment at the time of electrocardiography measurement were excluded. The appearance of fQRS represented exposure. The primary outcome was SLE Disease Activity Index 2000 (SLEDAI-2K). Multiple regression analysis was conducted to assess the association between fQRS and SLEDAI-2K adjusted for age, sex, and time from the estimated onset date to the date of diagnosis.

Results

Among patients with SLE at diagnosis, 26 (59.1%) had fQRS. The median SLEDAI-2K was 18 (interquartile range [IQR], 12–22) and 9 (IQR, 8–15) in the fQRS(+) and fQRS(-) groups, respectively. SLEDAI-2K was significantly higher in the fQRS(+) group than in the fQRS(-) group (regression coefficient, 2.69; 95% confidence interval, 0.76–4.61; p = 0.008).

Conclusion

Our results suggested that fQRS(+) patients with SLE had high disease activity. fQRS could likely detect subclinical myocardial involvement in patients with SLE and predict long-term occurrence of cardiac events.

Fragmented QRS complex predicts contrast-induced nephropathy and in-hospital mortality after primary percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction

BACKGROUND

Contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) is associated with increased mortality after primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Recently, fragmented QRS complex (fQRS) on 12-lead electrocardiography has been introduced as a marker of cardiovascular disease and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality.

HYPOTHESIS

fQRS on ECG is associated with CIN and in-hospital mortality after primary PCI in patients with STEMI.

METHODS

Eight hundred ninety-five patients with first STEMI treated by primary PCI were enrolled in the study. Patients were divided into 2 groups according to the presence or absence of fQRS as shown by 12-lead electrocardiography in the first 24 hours. fQRS was defined by presence of an additional R wave (R″), or notching of the S wave, or >1 R' in 2 contiguous leads. Patients were then reallocated to 2 groups according to presence or absence of postprocedural CIN, which was defined as a rise in serum creatinine of 0.5 mg/dL or a 25% increase from baseline value within 72 hours after the procedure.

RESULTS

Patients with a fQRS were older and had significantly lower left ventricular ejection fraction. CIN occurred in 77 (8.6%) patients. The prevalence of CIN and in-hospital mortality was significantly higher in the fQRS(+) group. In multivariate analysis, fQRS was found to be an independent predictor of CIN (odds ratio: 3.125, P = 0.029) and in-hospital mortality (odds ratio: 9.062, P = 0.009).

CONCLUSIONS

The fQRS is an independent predictor of postprocedural CIN and in-hospital mortality in STEMI patients.

[Fragmented QRS. Relevance in clinical practice]

The QRS complex represents the electrical depolarization of ventricular myocardium. In the case of an undisturbed depolarization, the QRS complex has a normal configuration and duration, but abnormal electrical conduction leads to widening of the QRS complex. The block of one of the Tawara branches results in a typical bundle branch block pattern. A QRS complex that cannot be classified as bundle branch block due to an atypical configuration and contains notched R or S waves is called a fragmented QRS. The underlying pathophysiologies are manifold and include myocardial scars induced by ischemic heart disease, myocardial fibrosis due to other diseases, primary cardiac pathologies as well as systemic diseases with cardiac involvement. Pathologies on the cellular level, such as ion channel dysfunctions, also correlate with fragmented QRS. Besides the diagnostic relevance, fragmented QRS is known to have prognostic properties, for example in identifying high risk patients with coronary artery disease, cardiomyopathy, Brugada syndrome and acquired long QT syndrome; however, fragmented QRS may also be detected in ECGs of healthy individuals.

The importance of fragmented QRS in the early detection of cardiac involvement in patients with systemic sclerosis

Objective:

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is an autoimmune connective tissue disorder characterized by fibrosis. The prognosis of the disease is bad when clinically symptomatic cardiac dysfunction is occurred, therefore early detection of cardiac dysfunction is important in patients with SSc. The aim of this study was to investigate the frequency of fQRS in superficial electrocardiography in cardiacally asymptomatic patients with SSc and its relation to the systolic pulmonary artery pressure (sPAP).

Methods:

This study included 31 cardiacally asymptomatic patients with SSc (23 females, 40.4±9.2 years) and 41 healthy volunteers as the control (31 females, 38.2±11.8 years). The ECGs with 12 derivations and transthoracic echocardiographies of the patients were evaluated. The presence of fQRS in the superficial ECG, and its relation to systolic pulmonary artery pressure (sPAP) were investigated.

Results:

The mean sPAP value in the SSc group was observed to be higher than that of the control group (26 mm Hg and 20 mm Hg, respectively, p<0.001). The presence of fQRS in the SSc group was more frequent than the control group (55% and 10%, respectively, p<0.001). In SSc patients presence of fQRS become relevant with ≥24 mm Hg sPAP by 88% sensitivity and 79% specificity.

Conclusion:

In our study, the presence of fQRS in SSc patients, were more frequent than in the normal population. Since pulmonary hypertension is the primary cause of mortality in patients with SSc, the correlation of fQRS with sPAP should also be considered.

Fragmented QRS is associated with frequency of premature ventricular contractions in patients without overt cardiac disease

Objective:

In this study, we aimed to demonstrate whether the presence of fragmented QRS (fQRS) is associated with the frequency of premature ventricular contractions (PVCs).

Methods:

We retrospectively analyzed 282 cases by 24-hour Holter monitorings (HMs) between August 2012 and February 2013. Firstly, the patients were divided into 2 groups with respect to presence of fQRS and then divided into 3 groups with respect to frequency of PVCs as Group 1: seldom PVC (<120 PVCs/day), Group 2: moderate-frequency PVC (120-720 PVCs/day), and Group 3: frequent PVC (>720 PVCs/day). We investigated the predictors of frequent PVCs by using multinomial logistic regression analysis.

Results:

Ninety-eight patients had fQRS. There was no difference between the 2 groups with respect to body mass index, gender, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus. Patients with fQRS were older (54.9±15.6 vs. 47.0±16.3, p<0.001) and had more family history of coronary artery disease (25% vs. 13%, p=0.012). Patients with fQRS was more likely to be on aspirin therapy (28.6% vs. 10.4%, p<0.001) and have a larger left atrium diameter (33.5±5.7 vs. 30.4±5.8, p=0.001). Presence of fQRS was significantly associated with the frequency of PVCs (for frequent PVC 27.7% vs. 7.6%, p<0.001; for moderate-frequency PVC 18.4% vs. 11.4%, p=0.012); 26.2% of Group 1 (n=202) had fQRS, 46.2% of Group 2 (n=39) had fQRS, and 65.9% of Group 3 (n=41) had fQRS. In the multinomial regression analysis, only age (odds ratio: 4.24, 95% confidence interval 2.08-8.64, p=0.001) and fQRS (odds ratio: 2.11, 95% confidence interval 1.00-4.45, p=0.05) were predictors of frequent PVCs.

Conclusion:

This study demonstrated that the presence of fQRS is associated with frequent PVCs in patients without overt structural heart disease.

Assessment of the relationship between red cell distribution width and fragmented QRS in patients with non-ST elevated acute coronary syndrome

Background

Red cell distribution width (RDW) and fragmented QRS (fQRS) complexes have also been reported to be predictors of cardiac events and all-cause mortality in coronary artery disease (CAD). We aimed to investigate the association of serum red cell distribution width (RDW) levels and fQRS in patients with non-ST elevated acute coronary syndrome (NST-ACS).

Material/Methods

We retrospectively evaluated a total of 251 patients (191 men and 60 women) with NST-ACS. The NST-ACS consisted of unstable angina (UA) and non-ST elevated myocardial infarction (NSTEMI). The fQRS pattern was defined as the presence of an additional R’ or crochetage wave, notching in the nadir of the S wave or fragmentation of the RS or QS complexes in 2 contiguous leads corresponding to a major coronary artery territory. The relationships between the RDW and fQRS were assessed.

Results

The patients in the fQRS group were older, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) levels were significantly lower, and baseline RDW and troponin levels were significantly higher than in the group without fQRS. There were positive correlations between age, number of coronary arteries narrowed, and RDW, and negative correlations between triglyceride, LVEF, and RDW in study patients. There were positive correlations between number of fQRS leads, age, and RDW, and negative correlations between triglyceride, LVEF, and RDW in NSTEMI patients.

Conclusions

Our results indicate that an elevated RDW values is associated with fQRS in NST-ACS. Elevated RDW values and fQRS together may be useful for identifying NSTEMI patients in NST-ACS.

Frequency of fragmented QRS in ankylosing spondylitis : a prospective controlled study

OBJECTIVES

Since inflammatory diseases may also cause fibrosis, we hypothesized that patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) may have frequent fragmented QRS complexes (fQRS) when compared to a control group.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

In this prospective study, 71 patients with AS (group 1) were compared with 42 age- and gender-matched individuals without rheumatic disease (group 2, control). fQRS was described as the presence of an additional R wave (R') or R or S wave bridging, or the presence of fragmentation on two consecutive derivations that correspond to the major coronary artery regions.

RESULTS

The mean ages of groups 1 and 2 were 37.67 ± 9.17 and 40.43 ± 11.09 years, respectively (p = 0.270). fQRS was detected in 23 AS patients (32.4%), whereas 3 patients in the control group had fQRS (7.14%). Age, gender, medication, and echocardiography results were comparable. The disease duration score was 101.37 ± 59.96 months in fQRS(+) patients; in contrast, it was 57.93 ± 30.95 months in fQRS(-) patients. This difference was of statistical significance (p = 0.046). A statistically significant difference was not determined between the fQRS(+) and fQRS(-) groups when evaluated in terms of HLAB27 (p = 0.739). In the fQRS(+) group, the mean lumbar Schober score was 2.91 ± 1.52; in patients without fQRS, it was 4.10 ± 1.40. The mean thoracic expansion test scores in the fQRS(+) and fQRS(-) groups were 1.44 ± 0.66 and 2.69 ± 1.22, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Given the higher frequency of fQRS detected in electrocardiography studies in AS patients than in the control group, cardiac fibrosis is thought to be more likely to occur in AS patients without cardiovascular disease. The presence of fQRS may be a simple and cost-effective method for predicting cardiac fibrosis in AS patients. fQRS can be a predictive marker for fibrosis in patients with AS.

The independent relationship of systemic inflammation with fragmented QRS complexes in patients with acute coronary syndromes

Background and Objectives

QRS complex fragmentations are frequently seen on routine electrocardiograms with narrow or wide QRS complex. Fragmented QRS complex (fQRS) is associated with increased morbidity and mortality, sudden cardiac death and recurrent cardiovascular events. In this study, we aimed to interrogate the relationship of systemic inflammation with the presence of fQRS in patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS).

Subjects and Methods

Two-hundred and twenty eligible patients with ACS that underwent coronary angiography were enrolled consecutively in this study. Patients with significant organic valve disease and those with any QRS morphology that had a QRS duration ≥120 ms as well as patients with permanent pacemakers were excluded from this study.

Results

Patients with fQRS were of a higher age (p=0.02), had increased C-reactive protein (CRP) levels (p<0.001), prolonged QRS time (p<0.001), extent of coronary artery disease (CAD) (p<0.001), creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB) levels (p=0.006) and Q wave on admission electrocardiography (p<0.001) in comparison to patients with non-fragmented QRS. When we performed multiple logistic regression analysis, fQRS was found to be related to increased CRP levels {odds ratio (OR): 1.2, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.045-1.316, p=0.007}, QRS duration (OR: 1.1, 95% CI: 1.033-1.098, p<0.001), extent of CAD (OR: 1.5, 95% CI: 1.023-2.144, p=0.037), Q wave (OR: 2.2, 95% CI: 1.084-4.598, p=0.03) and CK-MB levels (OR: 1.0, 95% CI: 1.001-1.037, p=0.04) independently.

Conclusion

In our study, we found that fQRS was independently related to increased CRP. Fragmented QRS that may result as an end effect of inflammation at cellular level can represent increased cardiac risk by different causative mechanisms in patients with ACS.