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Ann Noninvasive Electrocardiol 2019 Apr 16:e12650. Epub 2019 Apr 16.

Faculdade Ciências Médicas, Ciências Médicas-MG, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.

Background: The differential diagnosis of a supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) is accomplished using a number of pacing maneuvers. The incidence and mechanism of a single ventricular premature beat (VPB) on initiation and termination of tachycardia were evaluated during programmed electrical stimulation (PES) of the heart in patients with the two most common regular SVTs: atrioventricular re-entrant tachycardia (AVNRT) and orthodromic atrioventricular tachycardia (AVRT).

Methods: Three hundred and thirty-seven consecutive patients aged above 18 years with an inducible sustained AVNRT or AVRT were prospectively enrolled. Read More

Ann Noninvasive Electrocardiol 2019 Apr 14:e12653. Epub 2019 Apr 14.

Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Pelita Harapan, Tangerang, Indonesia.

Introduction: A prolonged P-wave duration (PWD) in sinus rhythm pre-ablation has been hypothesized to be a non-invasive ECG marker associated with increased atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrence after pulmonary vein isolation (PVI). This systematic review and meta-analysis will assess the latest evidence on the association of prolonged PWD pre-ablation with AF recurrence after PVI.

Hypothesis: Prolonged PWD pre-ablation is associated with AF recurrence after PVI. Read More

Ann Noninvasive Electrocardiol 2019 Apr 12:e12652. Epub 2019 Apr 12.

Department of Cardiology, Bern University Hospital and University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland.

Aims: Supraventricular arrhythmia diagnosis using the surface electrocardiogram (sECG) is often cumbersome due to limited atrial signal quality. In some instances, use of esophageal electrocardiography (eECG) may facilitate the diagnosis. Here, we present a novel approach to reconstruct cardiac activation maps from eECG recordings. Read More

Ann Noninvasive Electrocardiol 2019 Apr 2:e12644. Epub 2019 Apr 2.

Heart Center, Tampere University Hospital and Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland.

The criteria for left bundle branch block have gained growing interest in the last few years. In this overview, we discuss diagnostic and prognostic aspects of different criteria. It was already shown that stricter criteria, including longer QRS duration and slurring/notching of the QRS, better identify responders to cardiac resynchronization therapy. Read More

Ann Noninvasive Electrocardiol 2019 Apr 1:e12643. Epub 2019 Apr 1.

Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands.

Introduction: During early drug development trials, electrocardiograms (ECGs) in healthy volunteers who are in a fasting state are evaluated to screen for possible adverse cardiac effects. However, the effect of the duration of fasting on electrocardiographic parameters is largely unknown. We compared the effects of fasting on standard 12-lead electrocardiographic recordings. Read More

Ann Noninvasive Electrocardiol 2019 Mar 27:e12641. Epub 2019 Mar 27.

Heart and Vascular Institute, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Background: Sex differences in clinical outcomes for left bundle branch block (LBBB)-associated idiopathic nonischemic cardiomyopathy (NICM) after cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) are not well described.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study at an academic medical center included subjects with LBBB-associated idiopathic NICM who received CRT. Cox regression analyses estimated the hazard ratios (HRs) between sex and clinical outcomes. Read More

Ann Noninvasive Electrocardiol 2019 Mar 21:e12647. Epub 2019 Mar 21.

VA New York Harbor VA Healthcare System, Brooklyn, NY.

Introduction: Successful initiation of spiral wave reentry in the neonatal rat ventricular myocyte (NRVM) monolayer implicitly assumes the presence of spatial dispersion of repolarization (DR), which is difficult to quantify. We recently introduced a NRVM monolayer that utilizes anthopleurin-A to impart a prolonged plateau to the NRVM action potential. This was associated with a significant degree of spatial DR that lends itself to accurate quantification. Read More

Ann Noninvasive Electrocardiol 2019 Mar 21:e12645. Epub 2019 Mar 21.

First Department of Cardiology, School of Medicine in Katowice, Upper Silesian Medical Centre, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland.

Background: Aortic valve stenosis (AS) generates a chronic pressure overload that induces left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of the electrocardiographic criteria for LVH in patients with clinically significant AS and to evaluate the relationship between the ECG criteria for LVH and echocardiographic parameters.

Methods: The clinical data of 95 patients with moderate to severe AS were retrospectively analyzed. Read More

Ann Noninvasive Electrocardiol 2019 Mar 21:e12646. Epub 2019 Mar 21.

Second Department of Internal Medicine, University of Toyama, Toyama, Japan.

Background: The predictive efficacies of parameters related to P-wave amplitude (PWA) for atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrence after catheter ablation are unclear.

Methods: We measured multiple PWA parameters using an automated system in 126 consecutive patients with persistent and long-standing persistent AF who underwent catheter ablation. The relationships between AF recurrence and various PWA parameters were examined, including the association with P-wave vector magnitude (calculated as the square root of the sum of lead II PWA squared, lead V6 PWA squared, and a one-half lead V2 PWA squared). Read More

Ann Noninvasive Electrocardiol 2019 Mar 21:e12648. Epub 2019 Mar 21.

Department of Electrocardiology, The John Paul II Hospital, Kraków, Poland.

The electrocardiogram (ECG) interpretation in patients with implantable pacemaker is often a perplexing problem. The difficulty in the device evaluation increases in the presence of novel timing cycles and additional functions. Authors describe a special function frequently encountered in Medtronic dual-chamber pacemakers and implantable cardioverter-defibrillator devices called managed ventricular pacing (MVP) and demonstrate its performance in the patient with undersensing episodes in ventricular channel. Read More

Ann Noninvasive Electrocardiol 2019 Mar 19:e12642. Epub 2019 Mar 19.

Department of Cardiology, Kizawa Memorial Hospital, Minokamo, Japan.

Ventriculophasic response (VR) is defined as the shortening of the sinus cycle length in the setting of greater than second-degree atrioventricular (AV) block. Typically, the PP intervals interposing a QRS complex are shorter than those without a QRS complex. Paradoxical VR is a rare clinical entity. Read More

Ann Noninvasive Electrocardiol 2019 Feb 23:e12639. Epub 2019 Feb 23.

Department of Medicine, Cardiovascular Division, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia.

Introduction: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a highly prevalent sleep disorder with important cardiovascular implications. Left atrial abnormality can be identified by electrocardiographic P-wave morphology and is considered an important risk for atrial fibrillation (AF) and stroke, both of which have been associated with OSA. We hypothesized that severity of OSA would be associated with more abnormal electrocardiographic P-wave morphology as indicated by P-wave terminal force in V (PTFV ) and P-wave area in V (PWAV ). Read More

Ann Noninvasive Electrocardiol 2019 Feb 9:e12637. Epub 2019 Feb 9.

Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Asyut University Hospital, Asyut, Egypt.

Background: Arrhythmias are considered one of the major causes of death in ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), particularly in the early in-hospital phase. Pre-infarction angina (PIA) has been suggested to have a protective role.

Objectives: To study the difference in acute electrocardiographic findings between STEMI patients with and without PIA and to assess the in-hospital arrhythmias in both groups. Read More

Ann Noninvasive Electrocardiol 2019 Feb 9:e12638. Epub 2019 Feb 9.

Tianjin Key Laboratory of Ionic-Molecular Function of Cardiovascular disease, Department of Cardiology, Tianjin Institute of Cardiology, Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China.

Ann Noninvasive Electrocardiol 2019 Feb 6:e12640. Epub 2019 Feb 6.

Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts.

Background: The aim of study was to investigate effects of beta-blockade on microvolt T-wave alternans (TWA), a precursor of lethal arrhythmia, in patients with long QT syndrome (LQTS).

Methods: Eleven consecutive LQTS patients, types 1 (n = 6), 3 (n = 2), and "non-1, non-2, non-3" (n = 3) were enrolled. All patients underwent 24-hr continuous 12-lead ECG monitoring before and after initiation of beta-blockade therapy. Read More

Ann Noninvasive Electrocardiol 2019 Feb 5:e12636. Epub 2019 Feb 5.

Section of Cardiology, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.

Background: Right ventricular (RV) pacing has been associated with increased risk of pacemaker-induced cardiomyopathy, hospitalization and death among patients with implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs). Little is known about its association with ventricular tachyarrhythmias. We hypothesize that RV pacing is associated with increased incidence of appropriate ICD shocks and death. Read More

Ann Noninvasive Electrocardiol 2019 Feb 5:e12635. Epub 2019 Feb 5.

Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.

Background: Presence of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) increases the risk for cardiovascular event. Many electrocardiographic (ECG) criteria can be used to diagnose LVH; however, high body mass index (BMI) may reduce ECG amplitudes.The aim of this study was to investigate the diagnostic performance of ECG criteria for diagnosing LVH among various BMI groups compared to diagnosis by cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging. Read More

Ann Noninvasive Electrocardiol 2019 Feb 5:e12632. Epub 2019 Feb 5.

Fundación Investigación Cardiovascular, Institut Català Ciències Cardiovasculars, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.

Background: The association between advanced interatrial block (aIAB) and atrial fibrillation (AF) is known as "Bayes' Syndrome." There is little information on the prognostic role that new speckle tracking echocardiographic (STE) imaging techniques could play in it. We have examined the relationship between left atrial (LA) STE and the prediction of new-onset AF and/or stroke in IAB patients. Read More

Ann Noninvasive Electrocardiol 2019 Feb 5:e12633. Epub 2019 Feb 5.

Division of Cardiology, Kingston Health Sciences Centre, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada.

Ann Noninvasive Electrocardiol 2019 Feb 1:e12634. Epub 2019 Feb 1.

Medical Classification Centre, Central Manpower Base, Singapore Armed Forces, Singapore, Singapore.

Background: Routine use of pre-participation electrocardiograms (ECGs) has been used by the Singapore Armed Forces, targeting early detection of significant cardiac diseases. We aim to describe the impact of demographic and anthropometric factors on ECG variables and establish a set of electrocardiographic reference ranges specific to a young male multiethnic Southeast Asian cohort.

Methods And Results: Between November 1, 2009, and December 31, 2014, 144,346 young male conscripts underwent pre-participation screening that included a 12-lead ECG, demographic and anthropometric measurements. Read More

Ann Noninvasive Electrocardiol 2019 Jan 28:e12629. Epub 2019 Jan 28.

Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada.

Background: Current noninvasive risk stratification methods offer limited prediction of arrhythmic events when selecting patients for ICD implantation. Our laboratory has recently developed a signal processing metric called Layered Symbolic Decomposition frequency (LSDf) that quantifies the percentage of hidden QRS wave frequency components in signal-averaged ECG (SAECG) recordings. The purpose of this pilot study was to determine whether LSDf can be predictive of ventricular arrhythmia or death in an ICD patient cohort. Read More

Ann Noninvasive Electrocardiol 2019 Jan 23:e12624. Epub 2019 Jan 23.

Department of Congenital Heart Diseases, Institute of Cardiology, Warsaw, Poland.

We report on a 44-year-old woman with coincidence of two genetic disorders: Andersen-Tawil syndrome and Marfan syndrome. In both, life-threatening arrhythmias could occur. A 44-year-old woman presented acute ascending aortic dissection with aortic arch involvement and chronic thoracic descending and abdominal aortic dissection. Read More

Ann Noninvasive Electrocardiol 2019 Jan 19:e12626. Epub 2019 Jan 19.

Department of Epidemiology and Prevention, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Epidemiological Cardiology Research Center (EPICARE), Winston Salem, North Carolina.

Objective: Electrocardiographic markers of left atrial (LA) abnormalities are linked to increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). We examined the relationship of vitamin D deficiency with prolonged P wave duration and PR interval as markers of LA abnormalities.

Methods: This analysis included 5,894 participants (58. Read More

Ann Noninvasive Electrocardiol 2019 Jan 19:e12627. Epub 2019 Jan 19.

Heart Rhythm Management Centre, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel-Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium.

Background: Early repolarization patterns (ERP) have been found to be associated with poor cardiovascular end points. We aimed to evaluate the ERP prevalence among patients with structurally normal hearts undergoing radiofrequency (RF) pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation and its association with the AF recurrence.

Methods: All consecutive patients who underwent RF-PVI as index procedure for paroxysmal AF in our center were evaluated. Read More

Ann Noninvasive Electrocardiol 2019 Jan 17:e12631. Epub 2019 Jan 17.

Department of Cardiology, Turkiye Yuksek Ihtisas Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.

Background: Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is an uncommon complication of pregnancy. Clinical courses of PPCM are markedly heterogeneous. Positive T waves in lead aVR (TaVR) are shown to be associated with adverse cardiac events in several cardiovascular diseases. Read More

Ann Noninvasive Electrocardiol 2019 Jan 11:e12628. Epub 2019 Jan 11.

Department of Cardiology, Yeditepe University Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.

Background: The currently used scheme for the classification of infarct location and extent in anterior myocardial infarction (MI) is intuitive rather than being evidence-based, and recent evidence suggests that it may be misleading both in anatomic and prognostic sense.

Material And Methods: Consecutive patients with the diagnosis of anterior MI were enrolled. All electrocardiograms (ECG) were first classified according to established scheme and then reassessed using newer criteria for angiographic site of occlusion. Read More

Ann Noninvasive Electrocardiol 2019 Jan 7:e12622. Epub 2019 Jan 7.

Department of Cardiology, Trabzon Ahi Evren Training and Research Hospital, University of Health Science, Trabzon, Turkey.

Background And Aim: New-onset atrial fibrillation (NOAF) has been associated with poor outcome in patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS). Also, Syntax score (SS) is a scoring system that is derived from angiographic images and is associated with long-term mortality and major adverse cardiac events. In this study, we aimed to assess the relationship between SS and NOAF with known predictors of atrial fibrillation. Read More

Ann Noninvasive Electrocardiol 2019 Jan 7:e12623. Epub 2019 Jan 7.

Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Maebashi, Japan.

Background: RYR2, encoding cardiac ryanodine receptor, is the major responsible gene for catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (CPVT). Meanwhile, KCNJ2, encoding inward-rectifier potassium channel (I ), can be the responsible gene for atypical CPVT. We recently encountered a family with CPVT and sought to identify a responsible gene variant. Read More

Ann Noninvasive Electrocardiol 2019 Jan 7:e12630. Epub 2019 Jan 7.

Section of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.

Background: An implantable loop recorder (ILR) assists in the diagnosis of unexplained syncope and atrial fibrillation (AF). Both become prevalent with age. Limited data exist describing the incidence of AF as the diagnostic rhythm underlying syncope in the elderly. Read More

Ann Noninvasive Electrocardiol 2019 Jan 7:e12625. Epub 2019 Jan 7.

Department of Pathology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina.

Introduction: Contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) is associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Recent studies suggest that CIN is associated with new-onset atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) who underwent catheterization. However, a systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature have not been done. Read More

Ann Noninvasive Electrocardiol 2018 Dec 6:e12621. Epub 2018 Dec 6.

Department of Cardiology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus N, Denmark.

Background: QRS narrowing after CRT is a predictor of patient outcome. Further narrowing can be obtained by interventricular pacing delay (VVd) optimization, raising interest to inter and intraobserver variation in manual measurements of QRS duration.

Methods: (a) Variation in intrinsic rhythm QRS duration in CRT patients with LBBB: In 40 intrinsic 12-lead ECGs, six observers measured QRS duration defined as widest QRS in any lead. Read More

Ann Noninvasive Electrocardiol 2019 Mar 14;24(2):e12617. Epub 2018 Nov 14.

Department of Prevention, Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine, Technical University of Munich (TUM), Munich, Germany.

Background: The electrocardiographic early repolarization (ER) pattern is associated with idiopathic ventricular fibrillation and increased long-term cardiovascular mortality. Whether structural cardiac aberrations influence the phenotype is unclear. Since ER is particularly common in athletes, we evaluated its prevalence and investigated predisposing echocardiographic characteristics and cardiopulmonary exercise capacity in a cohort of elite athletes. Read More

Ann Noninvasive Electrocardiol 2019 Mar 14;24(2):e12613. Epub 2018 Nov 14.

Department of Cardiology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.

Background: Electrocardiogram is an essential modality for diagnosis and early risk stratification for patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS), but its long-term prognostic value has not been well studied. This study tried to investigate the long-term prognostic value of variations of ECG parameters at admission and discharge in patients with non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI).

Methods: A total of 170 NSTEMI patients were recruited consecutively from 2013 to 2014 in West China Hospital of Sichuan University. Read More

Ann Noninvasive Electrocardiol 2019 Mar 12;24(2):e12609. Epub 2018 Nov 12.

Department of General Surgery, Health Sciences University Konya Training and Research Hospital, Konya, Turkey.

Background: Varenicline, which is a selective partial agonist of the alpha4-beta2 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor, is used for the smoking cessation pharmacotherapy. Cardiovascular adverse effects have been reported after varenicline usage in patients who stop smoking. We investigated the effect of varenicline usage on ventricular repolarization after smoking cessation. Read More

Ann Noninvasive Electrocardiol 2019 Mar 10;24(2):e12616. Epub 2018 Nov 10.

Department of Cardiology, Samsun Education and Research Hospital, Samsun, Turkey.

Objective: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac rhythm disorder with the associated risks of stroke and mortality. The usefulness of platelet to lymphocyte ratio (PLR), a recently described inflammatory marker, in predicting adverse cardiovascular events has been demonstrated in several studies. In the current study, we investigated the role of PLR in predicting recurrence after successful electrical cardioversion (ECV) in patients with non-valvular persistent AF. Read More

Ann Noninvasive Electrocardiol 2018 Nov 9:e12619. Epub 2018 Nov 9.

Department of Cardiology, Dr. Suat Gunsel University of Kyrenia Hospital, Kyrenia, Mersin, Turkey.

Background: Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) is an inherited cardiomyopathy characterized by ventricular arrhythmias and specific ventricular pathology. Repolarization abnormalities, the significant contributor to life-threatening arrhythmias and mortality, are frequently observed ECG changes in patients with ARVC. This study aimed to evaluate the changes in Tp-e interval, Tp-e/QT, Tp-e/QTc ratio, and traditional electrocardiographic features of electrical dispersion in patients with ARVC. Read More

Ann Noninvasive Electrocardiol 2018 Nov 7:e12614. Epub 2018 Nov 7.

Knight Cardiovascular Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon.

Background: Global electrical heterogeneity (GEH) is associated with sudden cardiac death (SCD) in adults of 45 years and above. However, GEH has not been previously measured in young athletes. The goal of this study was to establish a reference for vectorcardiograpic (VCG) metrics in male and female athletes. Read More

Ann Noninvasive Electrocardiol 2019 Mar 7;24(2):e12612. Epub 2018 Nov 7.

Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.

Background: Electrocardiography (ECG) may be an efficacious diagnostic and prognostic tool in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). This study aimed to investigate association between deep T-wave inversion (TWI) and apical HCM, and between fragmented QRS (fQRS) complex and myocardial fibrosis in patients with HCM.

Methods: Patients with documented HCM by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) during 2005-2015 were studied. Read More

Ann Noninvasive Electrocardiol 2019 Mar 7;24(2):e12618. Epub 2018 Nov 7.

Health and Science University, Bagcilar Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.

Background: Fragmented QRS evaluated in 12-derivation electrocardiography has widely been accepted as a sign of myocardial fibrosis. The prognostic value of that marker has been demonstrated, particularly, in cardiac diseases that accompany myocardial scar and fibrosis. Myocardial fibrosis is also an issue in patients with aortic stenosis. Read More

Ann Noninvasive Electrocardiol 2018 Nov 7:e12620. Epub 2018 Nov 7.

Department of Intensive Care Medicine, National Defense Medical College, Saitama, Japan.

Background: T-wave alternans (TWA) is a risk stratification predictor for sudden cardiac death. However, little is known about the diurnal variation of TWA. Whether TWA are affected by heart rate (HR) or cardiac autonomic nervous activity in the subjects without significant structural heart disease in daily life is not fully understood. Read More

Ann Noninvasive Electrocardiol 2019 Mar 2;24(2):e12615. Epub 2018 Nov 2.

Division of Arrhythmia and Electrophysiology, Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center, Osaka, Japan.

Background: Detecting asymptomatic and undiagnosed atrial fibrillation (AF) is increasingly important. Recently, we developed a wristwatch-based pulse wave monitor (PWM; Seiko Epson, Japan) capable of long-term recording, with an automatic diagnosis algorithm that uses frequency-based pulse wave analysis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the validity of continuous pulse wave monitoring for detection of AF. Read More

Ann Noninvasive Electrocardiol 2018 Nov 2:e12607. Epub 2018 Nov 2.

The Section of Cardiology, Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Heart Institute, Baylor St Luke Medical Center, Houston, Texas.

We describe a patient with acute coronary syndrome, presenting with upsloping ST depression in leads I, II, V3-V6 and ST elevation in lead aVR. Coronary angiography revealed spontaneous dissection in a big, dominant left circumflex artery. No other lesions identified. Read More

Ann Noninvasive Electrocardiol 2019 Mar 1;24(2):e12608. Epub 2018 Nov 1.

Section of Cardiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas.

Ann Noninvasive Electrocardiol 2019 Mar 1;24(2):e12610. Epub 2018 Nov 1.

University of Zagreb, School of Medicine, University Hospital Center Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia.

Aims: Microvolt T-wave alternans (MTWA) testing is a beat-to-beat fluctuation in the amplitude of T wave. We investigated whether: (a) MTWA can be new non-invasive tool for detection of reversible ischemia in patients with suspected CAD without structural heart disease, (b) MTWA can detect ischemia earlier and with greater test accuracy compared with exercise ECG ST-segment testing, and (c) threshold value of MTWA and heart rate at which the alternans is estimated can be different compared to standard values.

Methods: A total of 101 patients with suspected stable coronary disease, but without structural heart disease, were included. Read More

Ann Noninvasive Electrocardiol 2019 Mar 17;24(2):e12597. Epub 2018 Oct 17.

Department of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, Texas.

Background: Recent studies suggested that fragmented (fQRS) is associated with poor clinical outcomes in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) patients. However, no systematic review or meta-analysis has been done. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the association between baseline fQRS and all-cause mortality in HFrEF. Read More

Ann Noninvasive Electrocardiol 2018 Nov 11;23(6):e12605. Epub 2018 Oct 11.

Department of Medical and Surgery Science, University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy.

Ann Noninvasive Electrocardiol 2019 Mar 3;24(2):e12602. Epub 2018 Oct 3.

Tianjin Key Laboratory of Ionic-Molecular Function of Cardiovascular Disease, Department of Cardiology, Tianjin Institute of Cardiology, Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China.

Background: The electrocardiographic criteria currently available for the diagnosis of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) are low in sensitivity. Thus, we compared the diagnostic performance of newly proposed electrocardiographic criteria to the existing criteria in a Chinese population.

Methods: A total of 235 consecutive hypertensive patients, hospitalized in our department between May 2017 and April 2018, were included. Read More

Ann Noninvasive Electrocardiol 2019 Mar 28;24(2):e12603. Epub 2018 Sep 28.

Heart and Vascular Institute, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Background: Baseline predictors of myocardial recovery after cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) in left bundle branch block (LBBB)-associated idiopathic nonischemic cardiomyopathy (NICM) are unknown.

Methods: A retrospective study included subjects with idiopathic NICM, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≤35%, and LBBB. Myocardial recovery was defined as post-CRT LVEF ≥50%. Read More

Ann Noninvasive Electrocardiol 2019 Jan 28;24(1):e12604. Epub 2018 Sep 28.

Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.

Background: Sudden cardiac death (SCD) results from a complex interplay of abnormalities in autonomic function, myocardial substrate and vulnerability. We studied whether a combination of noninvasive risk stratification tests reflecting these key players could improve risk stratification.

Methods: Patients implanted with an ICD in whom 24-hr holter recordings were available prior to implant were included. Read More

Ann Noninvasive Electrocardiol 2019 Jan 28;24(1):e12601. Epub 2018 Sep 28.

Department of Clinical Physiology and Nuclear Medicine, Skåne University Hospital and Lund University, Lund, Sweden.

Background: Patients with acute coronary occlusion (ACO) may not only have ischemia-related ST-segment changes but also changes in the QRS complex. It has recently been shown in dogs that a greater ischemic QRS prolongation (IQP) during ACO is related to lower collateral flow. This suggests that greater IQP could indicate more severe ischemia and thereby more rapid infarct development. Read More