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Hnatkova K, Andršová I, Novotný T, Vanderberk B, Sprenkeler D, Junttila J, Reichlin T, Schlögl S, Vos MA, Friede T, Bauer A, Huikuri HV, Willems R, Schmidt G, Sticherling C, Zabel M, Malik M. QRS complex and T wave planarity for the efficacy prediction of automatic implantable defibrillators. Heart 2024; 110:178-187. [PMID: 37714697 PMCID: PMC10850677 DOI: 10.1136/heartjnl-2023-322878] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2023] [Accepted: 08/19/2023] [Indexed: 09/17/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To test the hypothesis that in recipients of primary prophylactic implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs), the non-planarity of ECG vector loops predicts (a) deaths despite ICD protection and (b) appropriate ICD shocks. METHODS Digital pre-implant ECGs were collected in 1948 ICD recipients: 21.4% females, median age 65 years, 61.5% ischaemic heart disease (IHD). QRS and T wave three-dimensional loops were constructed using singular value decomposition that allowed to measure the vector loop planarity. The non-planarity, that is, the twist of the three-dimensional loops out of a single plane, was related to all-cause mortality (n=294; 15.3% females; 68.7% IHD) and appropriate ICD shocks (n=162; 10.5% females; 87.7% IHD) during 5-year follow-up after device implantation. Using multivariable Cox regression, the predictive power of QRS and T wave non-planarity was compared with that of age, heart rate, left ventricular ejection fraction, QRS duration, spatial QRS-T angle, QTc interval and T-peak to T-end interval. RESULTS QRS non-planarity was significantly (p<0.001) associated with follow-up deaths despite ICD protection with HR of 1.339 (95% CI 1.165 to 1.540) but was only univariably associated with appropriate ICD shocks. Non-planarity of the T wave loop was the only ECG-derived index significantly (p<0.001) associated with appropriate ICD shocks with multivariable Cox regression HR of 1.364 (1.180 to 1.576) but was not associated with follow-up mortality. CONCLUSIONS The analysed data suggest that QRS and T wave non-planarity might offer distinction between patients who are at greater risk of death despite ICD protection and those who are likely to use the defibrillator protection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katerina Hnatkova
- National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Irena Andršová
- Department of Internal Medicine and Cardiology, University Hospital Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
- Department of Internal Medicine and Cardiology, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Tomáš Novotný
- Department of Internal Medicine and Cardiology, University Hospital Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
- Department of Internal Medicine and Cardiology, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Bert Vanderberk
- Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - David Sprenkeler
- Department of Medical Physiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Juhani Junttila
- MRC Oulu, University Central Hospital of Oulu and University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Tobias Reichlin
- Department of Cardiology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Simon Schlögl
- Department of Cardiology and Pneumology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Gottingen, Germany
- German Center of Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), partner site Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Marc A Vos
- Department of Medical Physiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Tim Friede
- German Center of Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), partner site Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
- Department of Medical Statistics, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Axel Bauer
- University Hospital for Internal Medicine III, Medical University Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Heikki V Huikuri
- University Central Hospital of Oulu and University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Rik Willems
- Division of Experimental Cardiology, Department of Cardiovascular Diseases, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Division of Clinical Cardiology, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Georg Schmidt
- Medizinische Klinik, Klinikum rechts der Isar der Technischen Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | | | - Markus Zabel
- German Center of Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), partner site Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
- Cardiology and Pneumology, Heart Center, University Hospital Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Marek Malik
- National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, UK
- Department of Internal Medicine and Cardiology, University Hospital Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
- Department of Internal Medicine and Cardiology, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
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Hnatkova K, Andršová I, Novotný T, Britton A, Shipley M, Vandenberk B, Sprenkeler DJ, Junttila J, Reichlin T, Schlögl S, Vos MA, Friede T, Bauer A, Huikuri HV, Willems R, Schmidt G, Franz MR, Sticherling C, Zabel M, Malik M. QRS micro-fragmentation as a mortality predictor. Eur Heart J 2022; 43:4177-4191. [PMID: 35187560 PMCID: PMC9584751 DOI: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehac085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2021] [Revised: 01/05/2022] [Accepted: 02/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
AIMS Fragmented QRS complex with visible notching on standard 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) is understood to represent depolarization abnormalities and to signify risk of cardiac events. Depolarization abnormalities with similar prognostic implications likely exist beyond visual recognition but no technology is presently suitable for quantification of such invisible ECG abnormalities. We present such a technology. METHODS AND RESULTS A signal processing method projects all ECG leads of the QRS complex into optimized three perpendicular dimensions, reconstructs the ECG back from this three-dimensional projection, and quantifies the difference (QRS 'micro'-fragmentation, QRS-μf) between the original and reconstructed signals. QRS 'micro'-fragmentation was assessed in three different populations: cardiac patients with automatic implantable cardioverter-defibrillators, cardiac patients with severe abnormalities, and general public. The predictive value of QRS-μf for mortality was investigated both univariably and in multivariable comparisons with other risk factors including visible QRS 'macro'-fragmentation, QRS-Mf. The analysis was made in a total of 7779 subjects of whom 504 have not survived the first 5 years of follow-up. In all three populations, QRS-μf was strongly predictive of survival (P < 0.001 univariably, and P < 0.001 to P = 0.024 in multivariable regression analyses). A similar strong association with outcome was found when dichotomizing QRS-μf prospectively at 3.5%. When QRS-μf was used in multivariable analyses, QRS-Mf and QRS duration lost their predictive value. CONCLUSION In three populations with different clinical characteristics, QRS-μf was a powerful mortality risk factor independent of several previously established risk indices. Electrophysiologic abnormalities that contribute to increased QRS-μf values are likely responsible for the predictive power of visible QRS-Mf.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katerina Hnatkova
- National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College, ICTEM, Hammersmith Campus, 72 Du Cane Road, Shepherd's Bush, London W12 0NN, UK
| | - Irena Andršová
- Department of Internal Medicine and Cardiology, University Hospital Brno, Brno, Czech Republic.,Department of Internal Medicine and Cardiology, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Tomáš Novotný
- Department of Internal Medicine and Cardiology, University Hospital Brno, Brno, Czech Republic.,Department of Internal Medicine and Cardiology, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Annie Britton
- Research Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, UK
| | - Martin Shipley
- Research Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, UK
| | - Bert Vandenberk
- Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - David J Sprenkeler
- Department of Medical Physiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Juhani Junttila
- Medical Research Center Oulu, University Central Hospital of Oulu and University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Tobias Reichlin
- Department of Cardiology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Simon Schlögl
- Department of Cardiology and Pneumology, University Medical Center, Göttingen, Germany.,German Center of Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Marc A Vos
- Department of Medical Physiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Tim Friede
- German Center of Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.,Department of Medical Statistics, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Axel Bauer
- University Hospital for Internal Medicine III, Medical University Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Heikki V Huikuri
- Medical Research Center Oulu, University Central Hospital of Oulu and University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland
| | - Rik Willems
- Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Georg Schmidt
- Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany.,German Center for Cardiovascular Research Partner Site Munich Heart Alliance, Munich, Germany
| | - Michael R Franz
- Veteran Affairs and Georgetown University Medical Centers, Washington, DC, USA
| | | | - Markus Zabel
- Department of Cardiology and Pneumology, University Medical Center, Göttingen, Germany.,German Center of Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Marek Malik
- National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College, ICTEM, Hammersmith Campus, 72 Du Cane Road, Shepherd's Bush, London W12 0NN, UK.,Department of Internal Medicine and Cardiology, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
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Yang N, Han X, Zhang J, Zhang S, Sun J. What can we find in QRS in patients with ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction? J Electrocardiol 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jelectrocard.2022.09.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
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Andršová I, Hnatkova K, Toman O, Šišáková M, Smetana P, Huster KM, Barthel P, Novotný T, Schmidt G, Malik M. Intra-subject stability of different expressions of spatial QRS-T angle and their relationship to heart rate. Front Physiol 2022; 13:939633. [DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2022.939633] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2022] [Accepted: 07/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Three-dimensional angle between the QRS complex and T wave vectors is a known powerful cardiovascular risk predictor. Nevertheless, several physiological properties of the angle are unknown or poorly understood. These include, among others, intra-subject profiles and stability of the angle relationship to heart rate, characteristics of angle/heart-rate hysteresis, and the changes of these characteristics with different modes of QRS-T angle calculation. These characteristics were investigated in long-term 12-lead Holter recordings of 523 healthy volunteers (259 females). Three different algorithmic methods for the angle computation were based on maximal vector magnitude of QRS and T wave loops, areas under the QRS complex and T wave curvatures in orthogonal leads, and weighted integration of all QRS and T wave vectors moving around the respective 3-dimensional loops. These methods were applied to orthogonal leads derived either by a uniform conversion matrix or by singular value decomposition (SVD) of the original 12-lead ECG, giving 6 possible ways of expressing the angle. Heart rate hysteresis was assessed using the exponential decay models. All these methods were used to measure the angle in 659,313 representative waveforms of individual 10-s ECG samples and in 7,350,733 individual beats contained in the same 10-s samples. With all measurement methods, the measured angles fitted second-degree polynomial regressions to the underlying heart rate. Independent of the measurement method, the angles were found significantly narrower in females (p < 0.00001) with the differences to males between 10o and 20o, suggesting that in future risk-assessment studies, different angle dichotomies are needed for both sexes. The integrative method combined with SVD leads showed the highest intra-subject reproducibility (p < 0.00001). No reproducible delay between heart rate changes and QRS-T angle changes was found. This was interpreted as a suggestion that the measurement of QRS-T angle might offer direct assessment of cardiac autonomic responsiveness at the ventricular level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard N W Hauer
- Netherlands Heart Institute, and Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
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Andršová I, Hnatkova K, Šišáková M, Toman O, Smetana P, Huster KM, Barthel P, Novotný T, Schmidt G, Malik M. Sex and Rate Change Differences in QT/RR Hysteresis in Healthy Subjects. Front Physiol 2022; 12:814542. [PMID: 35197861 PMCID: PMC8859307 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2021.814542] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2021] [Accepted: 12/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
While it is now well-understood that the extent of QT interval changes due to underlying heart rate differences (i.e., the QT/RR adaptation) needs to be distinguished from the speed with which the QT interval reacts to heart rate changes (i.e., the so-called QT/RR hysteresis), gaps still exist in the physiologic understanding of QT/RR hysteresis processes. This study was designed to address the questions of whether the speed of QT adaptation to heart rate changes is driven by time or by number of cardiac cycles; whether QT interval adaptation speed is the same when heart rate accelerates and decelerates; and whether the characteristics of QT/RR hysteresis are related to age and sex. The study evaluated 897,570 measurements of QT intervals together with their 5-min histories of preceding RR intervals, all recorded in 751 healthy volunteers (336 females) aged 34.3 ± 9.5 years. Three different QT/RR adaptation models were combined with exponential decay models that distinguished time-based and interval-based QT/RR hysteresis. In each subject and for each modelling combination, a best-fit combination of modelling parameters was obtained by seeking minimal regression residuals. The results showed that the response of QT/RR hysteresis appears to be driven by absolute time rather than by the number of cardiac cycles. The speed of QT/RR hysteresis was found decreasing with increasing age whilst the duration of individually rate corrected QTc interval was found increasing with increasing age. Contrary to the longer QTc intervals, QT/RR hysteresis speed was faster in females. QT/RR hysteresis differences between heart rate acceleration and deceleration were not found to be physiologically systematic (i.e., they differed among different healthy subjects), but on average, QT/RR hysteresis speed was found slower after heart rate acceleration than after rate deceleration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irena Andršová
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine and Cardiology, University Hospital Brno, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia
| | - Katerina Hnatkova
- National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College, London, United Kingdom
| | - Martina Šišáková
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine and Cardiology, University Hospital Brno, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia
| | - Ondřej Toman
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine and Cardiology, University Hospital Brno, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia
| | | | - Katharina M Huster
- Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Petra Barthel
- Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Tomáš Novotný
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine and Cardiology, University Hospital Brno, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia
| | - Georg Schmidt
- Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Marek Malik
- National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College, London, United Kingdom.,Faculty of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine and Cardiology, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia
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