Cardiac arrhythmias in hospitalized patients with COVID-19: A prospective observational study in the western United States.

Arrhythmias have been reported frequently in COVID-19 patients, but the incidence and nature have not been well characterized. Patients admitted with COVID-19 and monitored by telemetry were prospectively enrolled in the study. Baseline characteristics, hospital course, treatment and complications were collected from the patients' medical records. Telemetry was monitored to detect the incidence of cardiac arrhythmias. The incidence and types of cardiac arrhythmias were analyzed and compared between survivors and non-survivors. Among 143 patients admitted with telemetry monitoring, overall in-hospital mortality was 25.2% (36/143 patients) during the period of observation (mean follow-up 23.7 days). Survivors were less tachycardic on initial presentation (heart rate 90.6 ± 19.6 vs. 99.3 ± 23.1 bpm, p = 0.030) and had lower troponin (peak troponin 0.03 vs. 0.18 ng/ml. p = 0.004), C-reactive protein (peak C-reactive protein 97 vs. 181 mg/dl, p = 0.029), and interleukin-6 levels (peak interleukin-6 30 vs. 246 pg/ml, p = 0.003). Sinus tachycardia, the most common arrhythmia (detected in 39.9% [57/143] of patients), occurred more frequently in non-survivors (58.3% vs. 33.6% in survivors, p = 0.009). Premature ventricular complexes occurred in 28.7% (41/143), and non-sustained ventricular tachycardia in 15.4% (22/143) of patients, with no difference between survivors and non-survivors. Sustained ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation were not frequent (seen only in 1.4% and 0.7% of patients, respectively). Contrary to reports from other regions, overall mortality was higher and ventricular arrhythmias were infrequent in this hospitalized and monitored COVID-19 population. Either disease or management-related factors could explain this divergence of clinical outcomes, and should be urgently investigated.

Electrocardiographic Findings in Coronavirus Disease-19: Insights on Mortality and Underlying Myocardial Processes.

BACKGROUND: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a respiratory syndrome with high rates of mortality, and there is a need for easily obtainable markers to provide prognostic information. We sought to determine whether the electrocardiogram (ECG) on hospital presentation provides prognostic information, specifically related to death. METHODS AND RESULTS: We performed a retrospective cohort study in patients with COVID-19 who had an ECG at or near hospital admission. Clinical characteristics and ECG variables were manually abstracted from the electronic health record and first ECG. Our primary outcome was death. THERE WERE: 756 patients who presented to a large New York City teaching hospital with COVID-19 who underwent an ECG. The mean age was 63.3 ± 16 years, 37% were women, 61% of patients were nonwhite, and 57% had hypertension; 90 (11.9%) died. In a multivariable logistic regression that included age, ECG, and clinical characteristics, the presence of one or more atrial premature contractions (odds ratio [OR] 2.57, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.23-5.36, P = .01), a right bundle branch block or intraventricular block (OR 2.61, 95% CI 1.32-5.18, P = .002), ischemic T-wave inversion (OR 3.49, 95% CI 1.56-7.80, P = .002), and nonspecific repolarization (OR 2.31, 95% CI 1.27-4.21, P = .006) increased the odds of death. ST elevation was rare (n = 5 [0.7%]). CONCLUSIONS: We found that patients with ECG findings of both left-sided heart disease (atrial premature contractions, intraventricular block, repolarization abnormalities) and right-sided disease (right bundle branch block) have higher odds of death. ST elevation at presentation was rare.

Incremental diagnostic and prognostic value of the QRS-T angle, a 12-lead ECG marker quantifying heterogeneity of depolarization and repolarization, in patients with suspected non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND: The value of the 12-lead ECG in the diagnosis of non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) is limited due to insufficient sensitivity and specificity of standard ECG criteria. The QRS-T angle reflects depolarization-repolarization heterogeneity and might assist in detecting patients with a NSTEMI (diagnosis) as well as predicting patients with an increased mortality risk (prognosis). METHODS: We prospectively enrolled 2705 consecutive patients with symptoms suggestive of NSTEMI. The QRS-T angle was automatically derived from the standard 10 s 12-lead ECG recorded at presentation to the ED. Patients were followed up for all-cause mortality for 2 years. RESULTS: NSTEMI was the final diagnosis in 15% (n = 412) of patients. QRS-T angles were significantly greater in patients with NSTEMI compared to those without (p < 0.001). The use of the QRS-T angle in addition to standard ECG criteria indicative of ischemia improved the diagnostic accuracy for NSTEMI as quantified by the area under the ROC curve from 0.68 to 0.72 (p < 0.001). An algorithm for the combined use of standard ECG criteria and the QRS-T angle improved the sensitivity of the ECG for NSTEMI from 45% to 78% and the specificity from 86% to 91% (p < 0.001 for both comparisons). The 2-year survival rates were 98%, 97% and 87% according to QRS-T angle tertiles (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: In patients with suspected NSTEMI, the QRS-T angle derived from the standard 12-lead ECG provides incremental diagnostic accuracy on top of standard ECG criteria indicative of ischemia, and independently predicts all-cause mortality during 2 years of follow-up.

Preoperative QTc Interval is Not Associated With Intraoperative Cardiac Events or Mortality in Liver Transplantation Patients.

OBJECTIVES: The primary objective of this study was to determine whether liver transplantation recipients with preoperative prolonged corrected (QTc) intervals have a higher incidence of intraoperative cardiac events and/or postoperative mortality compared with their peers with normal QTc intervals. DESIGN: This was a retrospective cohort study. SETTING: Single academic hospital in New York, NY. PARTICIPANTS: Patients undergoing liver transplantation between 2007 and 2016. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Data relating to all liver transplantation recipients with preoperative electrocardiograms were queried from an institutional anesthesia data warehouse and electronic medical records. Primary outcomes were a composite outcome of intraoperative cardiac events and postoperative mortality. Patients with a prolonged QTc interval (>450 ms for men, >470 ms for women) did not demonstrate an association with intraoperative cardiac events, 30- or 90-day mortality, in-hospital mortality, or overall mortality compared with recipients in the normal QTc interval group. A prolonged QTc was found to be associated with increased anesthesia time, surgical time, length of hospital stay, and incidence of fresh frozen plasma and platelets transfusion. CONCLUSIONS: Prolonged QTc interval is not associated with an increased incidence of intraoperative cardiac events or mortality in liver transplantation recipients. The demonstrated correlation among QTc length and Model for End-stage Liver Disease score, blood component requirements, surgical and anesthetic times, and hospital length of stay likely represents the association between QTc length and severity of liver disease.

ECG left ventricular hypertrophy as a risk predictor of sudden cardiac death.

BACKGROUND: Electrocardiographic (ECG) left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is an established risk factor for cardiovascular events. However, limited data is available on the prognostic values of different ECG LVH criteria specifically to sudden cardiac death (SCD). Our goal was to assess relationships of different ECG LVH criteria to SCD. METHODS: Three traditional and clinically useful (Sokolow-Lyon, Cornell, RaVL) and a recently proposed (Peguero-Lo Presti) ECG LVH voltage criteria were measured in 5730 subjects in the Health 2000 Survey, a national general population cohort study. Relationships between LVH criteria, as well as their selected composites, to SCD were analyzed with Cox regression models. In addition, population-attributable fractions for LVH criteria were calculated. RESULTS: After a mean follow-up of 12.5 ±â€¯2.2 years, 134 SCDs had occurred. When used as continuous variables, all LVH criteria except for RaVL were associated with SCD in multivariable analyses. When single LVH criteria were used as dichotomous variables, only Cornell was significant after adjustments. The dichotomous composite of Sokolow-Lyon and Cornell was also significant after adjustments (hazard ratio for SCD 1.82, 95% confidence interval 1.20-2.70, P = 0.006) and was the only LVH measure that showed statistically significant population-attributable fraction (11.0%, 95% confidence interval 1.9-19.2%, P = 0.019). CONCLUSIONS: Sokolow-Lyon, Cornell, and Peguero-Lo Presti ECG, but not RaVL voltage, are associated with SCD risk as continuous ECG voltage LVH variables. When SCD risk assessment/adjustment is performed using a dichotomous ECG LVH measure, composite of Sokolow-Lyon and Cornell voltages is the preferred option.

Delayed pacemaker requirement after transcatheter aortic valve implantation with a new-generation balloon expandable valve: Should we monitor longer?

OBJECTIVES: To analyze the timing of appearance of conduction abnormalities (CAs) after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI), to identify predictors of delayed CAs requiring pacemaker (PM) implantation and to provide guidance regarding the duration of telemetry monitoring. BACKGROUND: How long patients remain at risk of development of CAs requiring PM implantation after TAVI and for how long they should be monitored remains unclear but is crucial when considering early discharge. METHODS: Development of CAs was studied in 701 consecutive patients treated with Edwards Sapien 3 valves and monitored with telemetry for 7 days in a single center. After excluding valve-in-valve procedures and patients with previous PM, 606 patients remained for analysis. Predictors of CAs requiring PM and the time of onset of CAs were analyzed. RESULTS: Of 606 patients 76 (12.5%) required a PM after TAVI. CAs requiring PM implantation occurred after 48 h in 22.4% (17 patients) and in 10.5% (8 patients) even after 5 days. Of the patients who developed high grade CAs requiring PM after 48 h, 47.1% had no CAs prior to TAVI, and 23.5% had neither pre-existing CAs nor new-developed CAs within the first 48 h after TAVI. CONCLUSION: After TAVI using a new-generation balloon-expandable valve, delayed development of CAs requiring PM implantation is not uncommon, even after 5 days. More importantly, 23.5% of patients eventually requiring a delayed PM implantation had still no CAs at 48 h after TAVI in this study. These results question the safety of early discharge and support ECG monitoring for a longer time period. The most optimal way to monitor these patients is yet to be determined.

Electrocardiographic Predictors of Morbidity and Mortality in Patients With Acute Myocarditis: The Importance of QRS-T Angle.

BACKGROUND: Acute myocarditis carries a variable prognosis. We evaluated the morbidity and mortality rates in patients with acute myocarditis and admission electrocardiographic predictors of outcome. METHODS AND RESULTS: Patients admitted to a tertiary hospital with a clinical diagnosis of acute myocarditis were evaluated; 193 patients were included. Median follow-up was 5.7 years, 82% were male, and overal median age was 30 years (range 21-39). The most common clinical presentations were chest pain (77%) and fever (53%). The 30-day survival rate was 98.9%. Overall survival during follow-up was 94.3%. The most common abnormalities observed on electrocardiography were T-wave changes (36%) and ST-segment changes (32%). Less frequent changes included abnormal T-wave axis (>105° or < -15°; 16%), abnormal QRS axis (12%), QTc >460 ms (11%), and QRS interval ≥120 ms (5%). Wide QRS-T angle (≥100°) was demonstrated in 13% of the patients and was associated with an increased mortality rate compared with patients with a narrow QRS-T angle (20% vs 4%; P = .007). The rate of heart failure among patients with a wide QRS-T angle was significantly higher (36% vs 10%; P = .001). Cox regression analysis demonstrated that a wide QRS-T angle (≥100°) was a significant independent predictor of heart failure (hazard ratio [HR] 3.20, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.35-7.59; P < .01) and of the combined end point of death or heart failure (HR 2.56, 95% CI 1.14-5.75; P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: QRS-T angle is a predictor of increased morbidity and mortality in acute myocarditis.

Association between QRS duration on prehospital ECG and mortality in patients with suspected STEMI.

BACKGROUND: QRS duration has previously shown association with mortality in patients with acute myocardial infarction treated with thrombolytics, less is known in patients with suspected ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) when assessing QRS duration on prehospital ECG. Thus, the objective was to investigate the prognostic effect of QRS duration on prehospital ECG and presence of classic left and right bundle branch block (LBBB/RBBB) for all-cause mortality in patients with suspected STEMI. METHOD: In total 2105 consecutive patients (mean age 64±13years, 72% men) with suspected STEMI were prospectively included. QRS duration was registered from automated QRS measurement on prehospital ECG and patients were divided according to quartiles of QRS duration (<89ms, 89-98ms, 99-111ms and >111ms). Primary endpoint was all-cause 30-day mortality. Predictors of all-cause mortality were assessed using Cox proportional hazards analysis. RESULTS: Among all patients median QRS duration was 98ms (IQR 88-112ms). RBBB-morphology was seen in 126 patients (6.0%) and LBBB in 88 patients (4.2%), 80% were treated with percutaneous coronary intervention and the final diagnosis was STEMI in 1777 patients (84%). Thirty-day mortality was 7.6% in patients with suspected STEMI. In multivariable analysis, QRS duration>111ms (hazard ratio (HR) 3.08; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.71-5.57, p=0.0002), LBBB - morphology (HR 3.0; 95% CI: 1.38-6.53, p=0.006) and RBBB (HR 3.68; 95% CI: 1.95-6.95, p<0.0001) were associated with 30 day all-cause mortality. CONCLUSION: In patients with suspected STEMI, QRS prolongation, LBBB, and RBBB on prehospital ECG are associated with increased risk of death.

Adverse cardiovascular outcomes in atrial fibrillation: Validation of the new 2MACE risk score.

BACKGROUND: In addition to thromboembolism, atrial fibrillation (AF) may also predispose to major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) attributable to coronary artery disease (CAD), including myocardial infarction (MI). The 2MACE score (2 points - Metabolic syndrome and Age≥75years, 1 point - MI/revascularization, Congestive heart failure/ejection-fraction <40%, and thrombo-Embolism) was recently proposed to help identify AF patients at risk of MACE. We assessed the predictive validity of the 2MACE score for MACE occurrence in AF patients free of CAD at baseline. METHODS: Non-valvular AF patients (n=794) without CAD (mean-age, 62.5±12.1years, metabolic syndrome, 34.0%; heart failure/ejection-fraction <40%, 25.7%; thromboembolism, 9.7%) were prospectively followed for 5years, or until MACE (composite of non-fatal/fatal MI, revascularization and cardiovascular death). At inclusion, CAD was excluded by medical history, exercise-stress testing and/or coronary angiography. Also, the 2MACE score was determined. RESULTS: At follow-up, 112 patients experienced MACE (2.8%/year). The 2MACE score demonstrated adequate discrimination (C-statistic, 0.699; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.648-0.750; P<0.001) and calibration (Hosmer-Lemeshow P=0.79) for MACE. The score was significantly associated with MACE, with the adjusted Hazard Ratio (aHR) of 1.56 (95%CI, 1.35-1.73; P<0.001). As for individual outcomes, the score predicted MI (n=46; aHR, 1.49; 95%CI 1.23-1.80), revascularization (n=32; aHR, 1.41; 95%CI, 1.11-1.80) and cardiovascular death (n=34; aHR, 1.43; 95%CI, 1.14-1.81), all P<0.001. CONCLUSIONS: The 2MACE score successfully predicts future MACE, including incident MI, coronary revascularization and cardiovascular death in AF patients free of CAD at baseline. It may have a role in risk-stratification and primary prevention of MACE in AF patients.

Association between use of pre-hospital ECG and 30-day mortality: A large cohort study of patients experiencing chest pain.

BACKGROUND: In the assessment of patients with chest pain, there is support for the use of pre-hospital ECG in the literature and in the care guidelines. Using propensity score methods, we aim to examine whether the mere acquisition of a pre-hospital ECG among patients with chest pain affects the outcome (30-day mortality). METHODS: The association between pre-hospital ECG and 30-day mortality was studied in the overall cohort (n=13151), as well as in the one-to-one matched cohort with 2524 patients not examined with pre-hospital ECG and 2524 patients examined with pre-hospital ECG. RESULTS: In the overall cohort, 21% (n=2809) did not undergo an ECG tracing in the pre-hospital setting. Among those who had pain during transport, 14% (n=1159) did not undergo a pre-hospital ECG while 32% (n=1135) of those who did not have pain underwent an ECG tracing. In the overall cohort, the OR for 30-day mortality in patients who had a pre-hospital ECG, as compared with those who did not, was 0.63 (95% CI 0.05-0.79; p<0.001). In the matched cohort, the OR was 0.65 (95% CI 0.49-0.85; p<0.001). Using the propensity score, in the overall cohort, the corresponding HR was 0.65 (95% CI 0.58-0.74). CONCLUSION: Using propensity score methods, we provide real-world data demonstrating that the adjusted risk of death was considerably lower among the cases in whoma pre-hospital ECG was used. The PH-ECG is underused among patients with chest discomfort and the mere acquisition of a pre-hospital ECG may reduce mortality.

Right ventriculo-arterial coupling assessed by two-dimensional strain: A new parameter of right ventricular function independently associated with prognosis in chronic heart failure patients.

AIM OF THE STUDY: To evaluate whether right ventriculo-arterial coupling obtained by the estimation of the two-dimensional right ventricular (RV) longitudinal strain and of the pulmonary arterial systolic pressure (PASP) could improve prognostic stratification of chronic heart failure (CHF) outpatients. METHODS: CHF outpatients in a stable clinical condition and in conventional therapy were enrolled. The global RV longitudinal strain (RV-GLS) and the strain of the RV free wall (RV-fwLS) were evaluated. PASP was estimated on the basis of tricuspid regurgitation velocity and the estimated central venous pressure. Both RV-GLS and RV-fwLS were then indexed for PASP. RESULTS: Of the 315 patients evaluated, 69 died during follow-up. Both RV-GLS/PASP and RV-fwLS/PASP were significantly associated with an increased risk of death at univariate (HR: 0.43; 95%CI: 0.34-0.56; p<0.001 and HR: 0.44; 95% CI: 0.34-0.57; p<0.001, respectively) and multivariate analysis (HR: 0.66; 95% CI: 0.49-0.89; p: 0.008 and HR: 0.65; 95% CI: 0.49-0.85; p: 0.002, respectively) after correction for age, NYHA class, mean arterial pressure, left ventricular ejection fraction, natremia, glomerular filtration rate and NT-proBNP. CONCLUSIONS: Indexing RV function, assessed by speckle-tracking analysis, with an estimation of pulmonary systolic arterial pressure provides a parameter of ventricular arterial coupling that is independently associated with an increased risk of mortality.

Prevalence of electrocardiographic unrecognized myocardial infarction and its association with mortality.

BACKGROUND: Identifying unrecognized myocardial infarction (MI) is important for secondary prevention. The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence and correlates of unrecognized MI and the association with mortality in the general population. METHODS: All participants ≥18years participating in the Lifelines population, a three-generation Cohort Study and Biobank, were included (n=152,180). Participants with unrecognized MI were matched with controls without MI (1:2) based on age and gender. Unrecognized MI was defined when no history of MI was reported in combination with electrocardiographic (ECG) signs corresponding to MI. A history of MI was defined as a reported history of MI in combination with ECG signs and/or the use of antithrombotic medication. RESULTS: MI was present in 1881(1.2%) of participants and was unrecognized in 431 (22.9%) participants. Under the age of 50years, percentages of unrecognized MI relative to the total amount of MI were 34% and 55% in men and women respectively. Compared to recognized MI, classical cardiovascular risk factors were less prevalent in participants with unrecognized MI. During a median follow- up time of 5, 4 and 4years, 4.4%, 6.4% and 2.2% of participants with unrecognized MI, recognized MI and without MI died, respectively. In a multivariable logistic regression unrecognized MI was an independent predictor of death. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of unrecognized MI is substantial and classical cardiovascular risk factors are less prevalent in participants with unrecognized MI. Nevertheless, unrecognized MI is associated with mortality. Risk stratification and early diagnosis is necessary to reduce the morbidity and mortality after MI.

Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin predicts myocardial dysfunction and mortality in severe sepsis and septic shock.

BACKGROUND: This study examines the clinical utility of plasma neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) as an indicator of myocardial dysfunction and mortality in severe sepsis and septic shock. METHODS: We designed a prospective cohort study in an intensive care unit, and 53 patients with severe sepsis or septic shock were included. Data were used to determine a relationship between NGAL and the development of myocardial dysfunction and mortality. These associations were determined by the Mann-Whitney test, multiple logistic regression, plotting the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, Kaplan-Meier curves and Spearman test. RESULTS: The High NGAL group had higher need for inotropic/vasopressor support (92% vs. 52%, p=0.0186), higher incidence of regional wall motion abnormalities (46% vs. 13%, p=0.0093), higher B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) level (p=0.0197), higher cardiac troponin I (cTnI) level (p=0.0016), lower ejection fraction (EF) (p<0.0001) and higher mortality (p=0.0262) compared to the Low NGAL group. Patients with High NGAL were more likely to manifest electrocardiogram (ECG) abnormalities (p=0.042) and demonstrate clinical myocardial dysfunction (p=0.0186) as evidenced by clinical or radiological evidence of pulmonary edema as compared to those with Low NGAL group. NGAL, BNP, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II score, cTnI, and PaO2/FIO2 ratio were independent predictor of death by multiple logistic regression analysis. The area under the ROC curve showed that plasma NGAL as a predictor of death in septic shock was significant. CONCLUSIONS: High plasma NGAL correlates with high mortality and myocardial dysfunction in severe sepsis and septic shock.

Outcome and incidence of appropriate implantable cardioverter-defibrillator therapy in patients with cardiac amyloidosis.

BACKGROUND: Cardiac amyloidosis (CA) is associated with a poor prognosis with the proposed mechanism of sudden cardiac death in the majority of patients being pulseless electrical activity. However, the incidence of ventricular arrhythmias (VA) and implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) indications in CA patients are unclear. We performed a detailed evaluation of our CA population undergoing ICD implantation and assessed appropriate ICD therapy and survival predictors. METHODS: We included consecutive patients from June 2008 to November 2014 in five centers. ICDs were systematically interrogated and clinical data recorded during follow-up. RESULTS: Forty-five patients (35 males, mean age 66±12years) with CA who underwent ICD implantation (84.4% primary prevention) were included. CA types were hereditary transthyretin in 27 patients (60%), light chain (AL) in 12 (27%) and senile in 6 (13%). After a mean follow-up of 17±14months, 12 patients (27%) had at least 1 appropriate ICD therapy occurring after 4.7±6.6months. Patients with or without ICD therapy had no significant differences in baseline characteristics, amyloidosis type, LVEF, and type of prevention although there was a trend towards a better 2D global longitudinal strain in patients with ICD therapy (P=0.08). Over the follow-up, 12 patients died (27%) and 6 underwent cardiac transplantation (13%). From multivariate analysis a worse prognosis was associated with higher NT-proBNP level (>6800pg/mL, HR=5.5[1.7-17.8]) and AL type (HR=4.9[1.5-16.3]). CONCLUSIONS: Appropriate ICD therapies are common (27%) in CA patients. No specific strong VA predictor could be identified. However, patients with advanced heart disease, especially with AL-CA, display a poorer outcome.

A focused investigation of expedited, stack of three shocks versus chest compressions first followed by single shocks for monitored ventricular fibrillation/ventricular tachycardia cardiopulmonary arrest in an in-hospital setting.

BACKGROUND: In cases of in-hospital-witnessed ventricular fibrillation/ventricular tachycardia (VF/VT) arrest, it is unclear whether cardiopulmonary resuscitation prior to defibrillation attempt or expedited stacked defibrillation attempt is superior. METHODS: Retrospective, observational study of all admitted patients with continuous cardiac monitoring who suffered VF/VT arrest between July 2005 and June 2013. In the stacked shock period (2005-2008), institutional protocols advocated early defibrillation with administration of 3 stacked shocks with brief pauses between each single defibrillation attempt to confirm sustained VF/VT. During the initial chest compression period (2008-2011), the protocol was modified to perform a 2-minute period of chest compressions prior to each defibrillation, including the initial. In the modified stack shock period (2011-2013), for a monitored arrest, defibrillation attempts were expedited with up to 3 successive shocks administered for persistent VF/VT. In unmonitored arrest, chest compressions and ventilations were initiated prior to defibrillation. The primary outcome measure was survival to hospital discharge. RESULTS: Six hundred sixty-one cardiopulmonary arrests were recorded during the study period, with 106 patients (16%) representing primary VF/VT. The incidence of VF/VT arrest did not vary significantly between the study periods (P= 0.16) Survival to hospital discharge for all primary VF/VT arrest victims decreased, then increased significantly from the stacked shock period to initial chest compression period to modified stacked shock period (58%, 18%, 71%, respectively, P < 0.01). Specific group differences were significant between the initial chest compression versus the stacked and modified stacked shock groups (all P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Data suggest that monitored VF/VT should undergo expeditious defibrillation with use of stacked shocks.

The extent of ST elevation and ST deviation as predictors of mortality in ST-segment elevation myocardial patients planned to undergo primary percutaneous coronary intervention.

BACKGROUND: Only few data are available on the predictive value of ST deviation (both ST elevation and depression). Therefore, we have examined the predictive value of ST elevation and ST deviation in STEMI patients on 30-day and long term mortality. METHODS: All STEMI patients with an interpretable diagnostic electrocardiogram, who were referred to the Isala hospital and were planned to undergo a primary coronary intervention (pPCI) in the period 2001 until 2009, were prospectively registered in a cohort study. These patients were divided in tertiles based on the cumulative (cum) ST deviation (D1, D2 and D3) and cum ST elevation (E1, E2 and E3), as assessed by an independent core-lab. RESULTS: In total, 4513 patients were registered. 30-day mortality increased with cum ST deviation (0-9 mm: 1.9%, > 9-16 mm: 2.4%, > 16 mm: 3.9%, P = 0.001), but not significant with cum ST elevation. Long term mortality increased with cum ST-deviation (0-9 mm: 18.6%, > 9-16 mm: 22.1%, > 16 mm: 25.7%, P < 0.001) and with cum ST-elevation (0-6mm: 19.7%, > 6-11 mm: 22.7%, > 11 mm: 24.2%, P = 0.070). After multivariable adjustment using Cox proportional Hazard models, cum ST deviation (D1: reference, D2: HR: 1.09 95% CI (0.67-1.77), D3: HR: 1.76 95% CI (1.14-2.73)) was independently associated with 30-day mortality. Both cum ST deviation (D1: reference, D2: HR: 1.14 95% CI (0.98-1.34), D3: HR: 1.32 95% CI (1.13-1.53)) and ST elevation (E1: reference, E2: HR: 1.17 95% CI (1.00-1.38), E3: HR: 1.21 95% CI (1.04-1.42)) were independently associated with long term mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Besides ST elevation, taking the extent of ST depression into account improves the predictive value of the diagnostic 12 lead electrocardiogram especially for 30-day mortality in STEMI patients who are planned to undergo pPCI.

Plasma pro-brain natriuretic peptide and electrocardiographic changes in combination improve risk prediction in persons without known heart disease.

BACKGROUND: Though the electrocardiogram(ECG) and plasma pro-brain-natriuretic-peptide (pro-BNP) are widely used markers of subclinical cardiac injury and can be used to predict future cardiovascular disease(CVD), they could merely be markers of the same underlying pathology. We aimed to determine if ECG changes and pro-BNP are independent predictors of CVD and if the combination improves risk prediction in persons without known heart disease. METHODS: Pro-BNP and ECG were obtained on 5454 persons without known heart disease from the 4th round of the Copenhagen City Heart Study, a prospective cohort study. Median follow-up was 10.4 years. High pro-BNP was defined as above 90th percentile of age and sex adjusted levels. The end-points were all-cause mortality and the combination of admission with ischemic heart disease, heart failure or CVD death. RESULTS: ECG changes were present in 907 persons and were associated with high levels of pro-BNP. In a fully adjusted model both high pro-BNP and ECG changes remained significant predictors: all-cause mortality(high pro-BNP, no ECG changes: HR: 1.43(1.12-1.82);P=0.005, low pro-BNP, ECG changes: HR: 1.22(1.05-1.42);P=0.009, and both high pro-BNP and ECG changes: HR: 1.99(1.54-2.59);P<0.001), CVD event(high pro-BNP, no ECG changes: HR: 1.94(1.45-2.58);P<0.001, low pro-BNP, ECG changes: HR: 1.55(1.29-1.87);P<0.001, and both high pro-BNP and ECG changes: HR: 3.86(2.94-5.08);P<0.001). Adding the combination of pro-BNP and ECG changes to a fully adjusted model correctly reclassified 33.9%(26.5-41.3);P<0.001 on the continuous net reclassification scale for all-cause mortality and 49.7%(41.1-58.4);P<0.001 for CVD event. CONCLUSION: Combining ECG changes and pro-BNP improves risk prediction in persons without known heart disease.

RSR' pattern and the risk of mortality in men and women free of cardiovascular disease.

This study included 6,398 participants (mean age 55 ± 0.34 years; 54% female; 49% white; 22% black; 24% Mexican; 4.3% other) free of clinical cardiovascular disease (CVD) and major ECG abnormalities. Cox regression was used to examine the association between the RSR' (incomplete right bundle branch block (RBBB) or right ventricular conduction delay) pattern and CVD and all-cause mortalities. The RSR' pattern was not associated with an increased risk of CVD (HR=1.10; 95%CI=0.63, 1.91) mortality or all-cause (HR=0.95; 95%CI=0.66, 1.35) mortality. The results were similar when the RSR' pattern was further separated into incomplete RBBB and right ventricular conduction delay. In conclusion, the RSR' pattern is a benign finding in older adults free of clinical CVD.