ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
as a relatively high number of ST-segment elevation
myocardial infarction (
STEMI)
patients develop major adverse cardiovascular events (
MACE) following
percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), our aim was to determine the significance, and possible predictive value of QRS complex width and ST-segment elevation.
METHODS:
our
patient sample included 200 PCI-treated
STEMI patients, which were divided into two groups based on the following duration of symptoms (I) less than 6 h, and (II) 6 to 12 h. For every
patient, an
ECG was performed at six different
time points,
patients were followed for up to six years for the occurrence of
MACE.
RESULTS:
the mean age was 60.6 ± 11.39 years, and 142 (71%) were
male. The 6-12 h group had significantly wider QRS complex, higher ST-segment elevation, lower
prevalence of ST-segment resolution as well as
MACE prevalence (p < 0.05).
ECG parameters, QRS width, and
magnitude of ST-segment elevation were proved to be independent significant predictors of
MACE in all measured
time points (p < 0.05). Even after controlling for
biomarkers of myocardial
injury, these
ECG parameters remained statistically significant predictors of
MACE (p < 0.05).
CONCLUSION:
our study highlights that wider QRS complex and a more pronounced ST-segment elevation are associated with longer total ischemic
time and higher
risk of long-term
MACE.
