The relationship between fragmented QRS complex and coronary collateral circulation in patients with chronic total occlusion lesion without prior myocardial infarction

Abstract

Objective: To explore the relationship between fragmented QRS complex(fQRS) and coronary collateral circulation(CCC) in patients with chronic total occlusion(CTO)lesion without prior myocardial infarction. Methods: This retrospective study analyzed 238 consecutive patients with CTO lesion in one of the major coronary arteries from May 2014 to October 2015 in our department. Patients were divided into poor CCC group (grade 0 and 1, 58 cases) and good CCC group(grade 2 and 3, 180 cases) based on Rentrop's classification of CCC. The fQRS was defined as the presence of an additional R wave or notching of R or S wave or the presence of fragmentation in two contiguous electrocardiogram leads corresponding to a major coronary artery territory. Multivariate logistic regression was used to analyze the relationship between CCC and fQRS on electrocardiogram. Results: Compared with good CCC group, patients in poor CCC group had older age((65.2±8.9)years old vs. (60.3±10.1) years old, P=0.03), higher plasma glucose ((7.22±3.00) mmol/L vs.(6.31±1.83)mmol/L, P=0.04), and lower left ventricular ejection fraction ((45.2±11.4)% vs. (51.2±13.5)%, P=0.02). None of patients had Rentrop grade 0, the presence of fQRS on ECG in patients with Rentrop grade 1, grade 2, and grade 3 CCC was 69.0% (40/58), 48.6% (35/72) , and 19.4% (21/108), respectively (P<0.01). The presence of fQRS were higher in poor CCC group than in good CCC group (69.0%(40/58)vs. 31.1%(56/180), P<0.01), and number of leads with fQRS were higher in poor CCC group than in good CCC group (3(0, 4)vs.0(0, 3), P<0.01). Multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that poor CCC growth in patients with CTO lesion without prior myocardial infarction was independently related to the presence of fQRS (OR=3.659, 95%CI 1.619-8.217, P<0.01). Conclusion: Poor CCC in patients with CTO lesion without prior myocardial infarction is independently related to the presence of fQRS on electrocardiogram.