An ECG index of myocardial scar enhances prediction of defibrillator shocks: an analysis of the Sudden Cardiac Death in Heart Failure Trial.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Only a minority of patients receiving implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) for the primary prevention of sudden death receive appropriate shocks, yet almost as many are subjected to inappropriate shocks and device complications. Identifying and quantifying myocardial scar, which forms the substrate for ventricular tachyarrhythmias, may improve risk stratification.

Objective

This study sought to determine whether the absence of myocardial scar detected by novel 12-lead electrocardiographic (ECG) Selvester QRS scoring criteria identifies patients with low risk for appropriate ICD shocks.

Methods

We applied QRS scoring to 797 patients from the ICD arm of the Sudden Cardiac Death in Heart Failure Trial. Patients were followed up for a median of 45.5 m

SUBMITTER: Strauss DG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3010478 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature