Common Electrocardiographic Abnormalities Research Articles

Number of Premature Ventricular Complexes Predicts Long-Term Outcomes in Patients with Persistent Atrial Fibrillation

Background: Premature ventricular complexes (PVCs) are common electrocardiographic abnormalities and may be a prognosticator in predicting mortality in patients with structurally normal hearts or chronic heart diseases. Whether PVC burden was associated with mortality in patients with chronic atrial fibrillation (AF) remained unknown. We investigated the prognostic value of PVC burden in patients with persistent AF. Methods: A retrospective analysis of 24 h Holter recordings of 1767 patients with persistent AF was conducted. Clinical characteristics, 24 h average heart rate (HR), and PVC measures, including 24 h PVC burden and the presence of consecutive PVCs (including any PVC couplet, triplet, or non-sustained ventricular tachycardia) were examined for the prediction of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality using the Cox proportional hazards model. Results: After a median follow-up time of 30 months, 286 (16%) patients died and 1481 (84%) patients survived. Multivariate analysis revealed that age, heart failure, stroke, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor/angiotensin receptor blocker, beta-blocker, digoxin, oral anticoagulant use, and estimated glomerular filtration rate were significant baseline predictors of all-cause mortality and cardiovascular mortality. Twenty-four-hour PVC burden and the presence of consecutive PVCs were significantly associated with all-cause and cardiovascular mortality after adjusting for significant clinical factors. When compared to the first quartile of PVC burden (<0.003%/day), the highest quartile (>0.3%/day) was significantly associated with an increased risk of all-cause mortality (hazard ratio, 2.46; 95% CI, 1.77–3.42) and cardiovascular mortality (hazard ratio: 2.67; 95% CI, 1.76–4.06). Conclusions: Twenty-four-hour PVC burden is independently associated with all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in patients with persistent AF.

QTc prolongation after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage might be associated with worse neurologic outcome in patients receiving microsurgical clipping or embolization of the intracranial aneurysms: a retrospective observational study

PurposeQT interval prolongation is one of the most common electrocardiographic (ECG) abnormalities in patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH). Whether corrected QT interval (QTc) prolongation is associated with perioperative cardiac events and dismal neurological outcome in mid to long-term follow-up in patients after aSAH is insufficiently studied and remains controversial.MethodsWe retrospectively studied the adult (≥ 18 years) patients admitted to our institution between Jan 2018 and Dec 2020 for aSAH who underwent intracranial aneurysm clipping or embolization. The patients were divided into 2 groups (normal and QTc prolongation groups) according to their QTc. To minimize the confounding bias, a propensity score matching (PSM) analysis was performed to compare the neurologic outcomes between patients with normal QTc and QTc prolongation.ResultsAfter screening, 908 patients were finally included. The patients were divided into 2 groups: normal QTc groups (n = 714) and long QTc group (n = 194). Female sex, hypokalemia, posterior circulation aneurysm, and higher Hunt-Hess grade were associated with QTc prolongation. In multiple regression analysis, older age, higher hemoglobin level, posterior circulation aneurysm, and higher Hunt-Hess grade were identified to be associated with worse outcome during 1-year follow-up. Before PSM, patients with QTc prolongation had higher rate of perioperative cardiac arrest or ventricular arrhythmias. After PSM, there was no statistical difference between normal and QTc prolongation groups in perioperative cardiac events. However, patients in the QTc prolongation group still had worse neurologic outcome during 1-year follow-up.ConclusionsQTc prolongation is associated with worse outcome in patients following SAH, which is independent of perioperative cardiac events.

Prevalence of abnormal electrocardiographic findings and associated factors among patients with epilepsy at Jimma Medical Center, Ethiopia; Hospital-based cross-sectional study.

A person with epilepsy experiences recurrent seizures as a result of a persistent underlying disorder. About 50 million people globally are impacted by it, with 4 million of those being in Sub-Saharan Africa. One of the most frequent comorbidities that raise the mortality and morbidity rates of epileptic patients is abnormal Electrocardiographic (ECG) findings. Thus, the purpose of this study is to evaluate the prevalence of abnormal ECG findings in epileptic patients that might lead to increased risk of sudden cardiac death. A hospital based cross-sectional study was at Jimma Medical Center of Ethiopia on epileptic patients who were on follow-up at neurologic clinics during the data collection period. The malignant ECG characteristics and was identified using the ECG abnormality tool. To facilitate analysis, the gathered data was imported into Epidata version 3.1 and exported to the SPSS version 26. The factors of abnormal ECG and sudden death risk were examined using bivariate logistic regression. The study comprised 190 epileptic patients, with a mean age of 32 years. There were more men than women, making up 60.2%. A 43.2% (n = 80) frequency of ECG abnormalities was identified. According to the study, early repolarization abnormalities were the most common ECG abnormalities and increased with male sex and the length of time a person had seizures (AOR) of 4.751 and 95% CI (.273,.933), p = 0.029, compared to their female counterparts. The frequency of malignant ECG alterations in epileptic patients on follow-up at Jimma Medical Center in Ethiopia is described in the study. According to the study, there were significant ECG alterations in epileptic individuals. Male gender and longer duration of epilepsy raise the risk of abnormal ECG findings that could result in sudden cardiac death.

Changes in Electrocardiogram in Patients With Spontaneous Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background Electrocardiographic (ECG) changes are frequently reported findings in patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). We conducted a retrospective descriptive study to assess the prevalence of electrocardiographic changes in patients with non-traumatic SAH. Methods In this single-center retrospective cross-sectional study, ECG recordings of 45 patients who presented to Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital in the year 2019 with SAH were collected and analyzed to detect any abnormalities. Results In our study, 88.8% of patients had some form of ECG abnormality. The most common ECG abnormalities associated with SAH were QTc prolongation, T-wave abnormalities, and bradycardia, which were found, respectively, in 35.5%, 24.4%, and 24.4% of the patients. Other ECG changes we observed include ST depression, large U-waves, atrial fibrillation, and premature ventricular contractions. Conclusion Morphological and rhythm abnormalities are frequently observed in patients with SAH, which may cause diagnostic dilemmas and unnecessary workups. Further studies are required to evaluate their significance and correlate ECG changes with clinical outcomes.

Modern approaches to the diagnosis and treatment of cardiac sarcoidosis: results of a cohort study

Aim. To analyze clinical and paraclinical data in patients with documented cardiac sarcoidosis, outlining the key points of diagnosis and selection of the optimal treatment.Material and methods. For the period from 2016 to 2021, 63 patients (50,4±14,1 years) were included in the cohort study on negotiability. Based on a standard examination, 15 patients (41±13 years old) were selected, who continued the examination to confirm the diagnosis of cardiac sarcoidosis. Contrast-enhanced cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed in 10 patients, while endomyocardial biopsy in 7 patients. All patients underwent 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (PET).Results. The most common (53%) electrocardiographic abnormality was right bundle branch block. Ventricular arrhythmias and high-grade atrioventricular block were recorded mainly in patients with documented activity. Regional contractility disorders were predominantly detected in patients with cardiac fibrosis. Delayed contrast enhancement according to cardiac MRI was recorded mainly intramurally in the interventricular septum and subepicardial area of left ventricular (LV) lateral wall. When analyzing the PET results, we found the predominant radiopharmaceutical accumulation in the interventricular septum (56%), lateral (44%) and anterior (33%) LV walls. There was no significant improvement in global LV contractility against the background of immunosuppressive therapy, especially in patients with reduced ejection fraction: initially 49,2±10,1% vs 46,9±14,9% during therapy (p=0,658).Conclusion. A certain apprehensive attitude of the doctor and adherence to the algorithm for early diagnosis of cardiac sarcoidosis allows minimizing the risks of fatal cardiovascular events. On the contrary, in the case of late diagnosis, even the use of aggressive immunosuppressive therapy does not lead to an improvement in global myocardial contractility, and fibrosis zones can cause life-threatening bradyarrhythmias and ventricular arrhythmias.

Electrocardiographic Abnormalities in Patients With Spinal Cord Injury With Deranged Lipid Profile.

IntroductionSpinal cord injury (SCI) can lead to severe disability and neurogenic shock, arrhythmias, autonomic dysfunction, pressure ulcers, etc., of the autonomic nervous system. Therefore, in these patients, cardiovascular problems should be investigated frequently. This study was conducted to evaluate the electrocardiographic (ECG) abnormalities in patients with spinal cord injury having inappropriate lipid profiles and their relationship with each other.Materials and methodsThis cross-sectional study was held in the Internal Medicine Department of Mayo Hospital, Lahore, for a one-year duration from May 2020 to May 2021. It included 58 patients with spinal cord injury, 35 of whom had paraplegia, and 23 had tetraplegia. Fasting blood samples were taken for lipid profile analysis. Twelve-lead ECGs three times a day for one month were taken and analyzed in the context of previously available ECGs.ResultsOut of 58, the lipid profiles were found abnormal in 47 patients, 18 of whom had a normal ECG. The lipid profile was normal in 12, of which only one patient had ECG abnormalities. Cholesterol levels were found normal in 39 patients and deranged in 19 patients; low-density lipoproteins in nine patients, triglycerides in 18 patients, and high-density lipoprotein values in one patient were abnormal.ConclusionsSinus bradycardia was the most common ECG abnormality found in SCI patients with deranged lipid profiles. Further studies are needed in the future to validate the findings of this study.

QT interval prolongation and the rate of malignant ventricular dysrhythmia and cardiac arrest in adult poisoned patients.

Prolongation of QTc interval, a common electrocardiographic (ECG) abnormality encountered in the toxicology patient, is reportedly associated with an increased risk of malignant ventricular dysrhythmias (MVD), such as ventricular tachycardia (VT, with and without a pulse), ventricular fibrillation (VF), and/or cardiac arrest. Quantifiable cardiac arrest risk in relation to specific QTc interval length is not known in this population. We conducted a retrospective, observational study to assess the rate of cardiac arrest and its association with degree of QTc prolongation in a cohort of patients requiring toxicology consultation. 550 patients were included in our analysis (average age 36 years and 49% male). Average QTc was 453 milliseconds (ms). Overall incidence of cardiac arrest in the study cohort was 1.1% with 6 reported cases; when considering patients with QTc > 500 ms, incidence was 1.7%. Two patients with cardiac arrest experienced ventricular dysrhythmia with decompensation prior to cardiac arrest; four patients developed sudden cardiac arrest. The risk of malignant ventricular dysrhythmia, including cardiac arrest, is low in this poisoned patient population with an overall rate of 1.1%. Two-thirds of cardiac arrest cases occurred in patients with normal QTc intervals. When considering patients with prolonged QTc intervals, the rate of cardiac arrest remains very low at 0.8%. Considering QTc greater than 500 ms, the rate of cardiac arrest is 1.7%. Further prospective studies are required to quantify the risk of malignant ventricular dysrhythmias, including cardiac arrest, and its relation to the degree of QTc interval in poisoned patients.

COVID-19-associated multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children presenting uniquely with sinus node dysfunction in the setting of shock

SARS-CoV-2, which causes the disease COVID-19, generally has a mild disease course in children. However, a severe post-infectious inflammatory process known as multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children has been observed in association with COVID-19. This inflammatory process is a result of an abnormal immune response with similar clinical features to Kawasaki disease. It is well established that multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children is associated with myocardial dysfunction, coronary artery dilation or aneurysms, and occasionally arrhythmias. The most common electrocardiographic abnormalities seen include premature atrial or ventricular ectopy, variable degrees of atrioventricular block, and QTc prolongation, and rarely, haemodynamically significant arrhythmias necessitating extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support. However, presentation with fever, hypotension, and relative bradycardia with a left axis idioventricular rhythm has not been previously reported. We present a case of a young adolescent with multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children with myocarditis and a profoundly inappropriate sinus node response to shock with complete resolution following intravenous immunoglobulin.

Long term perspective with LBBB: role of stress echocardiography

Abstract Background Previous studies have shown that left bundle branch block (LBBB), as a relatively common electrocardiographic (ECG) abnormality, represents the condition with often non benign and sometimes adverse outcome. Purpose The Aim of our study was to determine the predictive value of a stress echocardiography test in patients with LBBB. Methods Our study population included 189 patients (88 male, 46.6%, mean age 63.08±9.65) with diagnosed left bundle branch block who performed stress echocardiography (SECHO) according to Bruce protocol. Median follow-up of the patients was 56 months (IQR 48–71 months) for the occurrence of cardiovascular death and non-fatal myocardial infarction, repeat revascularization (coronary artery bypass grafting-CABG or percutaneous coronary intervention-PCI). Results Out of 189 patients, 32 (16.9%) patients had positive, while 157 (83.1%) patients had negative SECHO test. During the follow up period 28 patients had major adverse cardiac event: 1 nonfatal myocardial infarction, 6 heart failure hospitalizations, 5 CABGs, 8 PCIs, while 8 patients had cardiac death. Using the Cox regression analysis, univariate predictors of adverse cardiac events were diabetes mellitus (HR 4.530 [95% CI 1.355–15.141], p=0.014), PCI (HR 4.288 [95% [95% CI 2.010–9.144], p<0.001) and positive SECHO test (HR 2.289 [95% CI 1.006–5207], p=0.048). In the multivariate analysis only previous PCI remained independent predictor of adverse events (HR 3.650 [95% CI 1.665–8.003], p=0.001). p=0.048). Using the Kaplan-Meier survival curve the patients with negative SECHO had better outcome compared to patients with positive SECHO (140/160; 87,5% vs 21/29; 72.4%, p=0.035) and much longer event-free time (77.4±1.6 months vs 67.1±5.4 months, Log Rank 4.136, p=0.042) Conclusion Patients with LBBB and negative SEHO test have good prognosis. Patients with history of CAD and diabetes mellitus and LBBB are at increased risk for future events and need periodical reassessment. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: None

Spanish Pacemaker Registry. 17th Official Report of the Section on Cardiac Pacing of the Spanish Society of Cardiology (2019)

Introduction and objectivesThis report describes Spanish cardiac pacing activity during 2019: quantities and types of devices and demographic and clinical factors. MethodsThe analysis is based on data obtained from the European Pacemaker Patient Identification Card, data submitted to the online platform cardiodispositivos.es, and supplier-reported data on the total number of implanted pacemakers. ResultsInformation was received on 15 833 procedures from 102 implantation centers, representing 39% of the estimated total activity. The implantation rates of conventional and resynchronization pacemakers were 832 and 32 units per million population, respectively. A total of 431 leadless pacemakers were implanted. Most implantations were performed in elderly patients (mean age, 78.7 years). Most electrodes were bipolar and with active fixation and 34.1% were magnetic resonance imaging-compatible. Atrioventricular block was the most common electrocardiographic abnormality. Dual-chamber sequential pacing predominated; nonetheless, up to 20% of patients in sinus rhythm received a single-chamber ventricular pacemaker, mainly those older than 80 years of age and women. Remote monitoring capability was present in 41% of cardiac resynchronization therapy pacemakers and in 14.8% of conventional pacemakers. ConclusionsConsumption of pacing generators increased by 1.6%, mainly due to a 15.1% increase in cardiac resynchronization therapy pacemakers. Sequential pacing predominates; its use is influenced by age and sex. Remote monitoring increased by 20.6% in cardiac resynchronization therapy pacemakers and continues to be scarce in conventional pacemakers.

Registro Español de Marcapasos. XVII Informe Oficial de la Sección de Estimulación Cardiaca de la Sociedad Española de Cardiología (2019)

Introduction and objectivesThis report describes Spanish cardiac pacing activity during 2019: quantities and types of devices and demographic and clinical factors. MethodsThe analysis is based on data obtained from the European Pacemaker Patient Identification Card, data submitted to the online platform cardiodispositivos.es, and supplier-reported data on the total number of implanted pacemakers. ResultsInformation was received on 15 833 procedures from 102 implantation centers, representing 39% of the estimated total activity. The implantation rates of conventional and resynchronization pacemakers were 832 and 32 units per million population, respectively. A total of 431 leadless pacemakers were implanted. Most implantations were performed in elderly patients (mean age, 78.7 years). Most electrodes were bipolar and with active fixation and 34.1% were magnetic resonance imaging-compatible. Atrioventricular block was the most common electrocardiographic abnormality. Dual-chamber sequential pacing predominated; nonetheless, up to 20% of patients in sinus rhythm received a single-chamber ventricular pacemaker, mainly those older than 80 years of age and women. Remote monitoring capability was present in 41% of cardiac resynchronization therapy pacemakers and in 14.8% of conventional pacemakers. ConclusionsConsumption of pacing generators increased by 1.6%, mainly due to a 15.1% increase in cardiac resynchronization therapy pacemakers. Sequential pacing predominates; its use is influenced by age and sex. Remote monitoring increased by 20.6% in cardiac resynchronization therapy pacemakers and continues to be scarce in conventional pacemakers.

Pattern of Electrocardiographic and Echocardiographic Abnormalities Among HIV Patients in Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Infection with HIV is independently associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, while therapeutic use of HAART has been shown to increase the risk of metabolic derangements which may have potentially damaging effects on the cardiovascular system. The study was carried out to assess the pattern of electrocardiographic (ECG) and echocardiographic (ECHO) abnormalities among HAART experienced and HAART naive HIV patients. This was a cross-sectional study of one hundred (100) HIV seropositive subjects and 100 age and sex matched controls to assess cardiovascular risk among HIV seropositive persons in Port-Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria. The results showed that the prevalence of ECG abnormalities among the cases was 49 (49%) compared to 42 (42%) of the controls (c2=0.020, p=0.886). Sinus tachycardia was the most common ECG abnormality in all study participants and was present in 37 (37%) of the control subjects when compared to 21 (21%) of the cases and this was statistically significant. T-wave inversion and prolonged QT interval were the next two most prevalent findings seen in 23% and 18% of the cases compared with 8% and 5% of the controls respectively and these were also statistically significant (p=0.004 and 0.003 respectively). Among the cases 10% had grade 1-2 diastolic dysfunctions compared with 23% of the controls and this was statistically significant (p=0.013). Ninety percent (90%) however had normal diastolic function compared with 77% of the controls. Systolic dysfunction was found in only 2% of the HAART experienced cases compared to 10 (10%) of the HAART naive controls and this was also statistically significant (p=0.017). The study showed that electrocardiographic and echocardiographic abnormalities are common in HIV seropositive patients with ECG abnormalities being more common among the HAART treated subjects. These ECG & ECHO abnormalities generally increase the cardiovascular risk profile of PLWHIV/AIDS and are independent predictors of CV mortality hence the need for prompt diagnosis and interventions.

QTc prolongation in patients of cirrhosis and its relation with disease severity: An observational study from a rural teaching hospital.

Introduction:Cirrhotic cardiomyopathy is characterised by increased baseline cardiac output, systolic and diastolic dysfunction, diminished cardiovascular response to stressful stimuli and electrophysiological abnormalities in patients of cirrhosis in the absence of any underlying cardiac disease. QTc prolongation has been described as a common electrocardiographic abnormality in cirrhosis patients.Aims and Objectives:This study was done to evaluate the prevalence of QTc changes in patients of cirrhosis coming to a rural tertiary care centre and to analyse its correlation with disease severity.Materials and Methods:The present study was conducted on 100 patients suffering from cirrhosis of liver presented to the department of medicine. Around 100 age and sex-matched individuals were recruited as controls. The Child-Pugh score was used to determine the disease severity in cirrhosis patients. Standard 12-lead ECG was recorded in all cases and controls.Results:Prolongation of QTc interval on ECG was observed in the majority (80%) of cirrhosis patients and it was significantly higher as compared to the healthy controls (P <0.01). The prolongation of QTc was significantly associated with the duration of disease (P <0.05) and disease severity as measured by the Child-Pugh score (P <0.01).Conclusion:QTc prolongation on ECG may be an early marker of cardiac involvement in patients of cirrhosis and is significantly associated with disease severity.

Diagnosis of right bundle branch block: a concordance study

BackgroundRight bundle branch block is one of the most common electrocardiographic abnormalities. Most cases of right bundle branch block are detected in asymptomatic patients in primary care, so a correct interpretation of electrocardiograms (ECGs) at this level is necessary.The objective of this research is to determine the degree of concordance in the diagnosis of incomplete and complete right bundle branch block between four primary care researchers and a cardiologist.MethodsThe research design is a retrospective cohort study of patients over 18 years of ages of patients over 18 years of ages who underwent an ECG for any reason and were diagnosed with right bundle branch block by their physician. The physicians participating, 4 primary care researchers and a cardiologist were specialized in interpreting electrocardiographic records. The diagnosis of incomplete and complete right bundle branch block was recorded and other secondary variables were analysed.In case of diagnostic discordance between the researchers, the ECGs were reviewed by an expert cardiologist, who interpreted them, established the diagnosis and analysed the possible causes for the discrepancy.ResultsWe studied 160 patients diagnosed with right bundle branch block by their general practise. The patients had a mean age of 64.8 years and 54% of them were men. The concordance in the diagnosis of incomplete right bundle branch block showed a Fleiss’ kappa index (k) of 0.71 among the five researchers and of 0.85 among only the primary care researchers. The k for complete right bundle branch block was 0.93 among the five researchers and 0.96 among only the primary care researchers.ConclusionThe interobserver agreement in the diagnosis of right bundle branch block performed by physicians specialized in ECG interpretation (primary care physicians and a cardiologist) was very good. The variability was greater for the diagnosis of incomplete right bundle branch block.

Epidemiological features, echocardiographic findings, and parasite load in patients with Chagas disease.

Chagas disease is a major public health problem that is endemic in Brazil and Latin America. This study aimed to determine the socioeconomic, demographic, and clinical characteristics of 171 patients (mean age, 45 years; female, 65%) with Chagas disease at Hospital Universitário de Brasília, Federal District, Brazil. We implemented this cross-sectional study using a clinical epidemiological questionnaire, electrocardiography, echocardiography, and quantitative detection of Trypanosoma cruzi DNA in blood using qRT-PCR. Among the patients, 26.3% had a full elementary education, and 13.2% were illiterate. Most (63.6%) were economically classified as class C, and 51.5% were born in Bahia state. A total of 62.0% participants reported previous contact with the triatomine bug. The clinical forms of the disease were indeterminate (69.51%), cardiac (15.24%), digestive (10.37%), and mixed (4.88%). The most common electrocardiographic abnormality was complete right bundle branch block in association with a divisional anterosuperior block. Only 14.6% of the patients complied with benznidazole medication for at least 60 days, and 164 of them were assessed by echocardiography. The parasite load was positive in 56% of the patients. Chagas disease affected mostly women, with the indeterminate chronic form of the disease.

Electrocardiographic characteristics, anthropometric features, and cardiovascular risk factors in a large cohort of adolescents.

AimsThe characteristics of electrocardiographic (ECG) patterns in the general population of adolescents are insufficiently defined. The purpose of this study is to report ECG patterns and their association with anthropometric characteristics.Methods and resultsTwenty-four thousand and sixty-two students of Roman schools, aged 12–19, were screened with ECG and physical examinations. Electrocardiographic abnormalities were classified as either minor/non-clinically relevant or major, and anthropometric measures were evaluated per age class. Obesity prevalence was 20.9%, with a higher rate in younger students (P < 0.008 for all comparisons, except for the pair 16–17 vs. 18–19 years). Stage 1 hypertension was found in 3.14% of adolescents, Stage 2 hypertension in 0.45% of adolescents, and isolated systolic hypertension in 11.7% of adolescents. Heart rate and QT interval corrected for heart rate (QTc) decreased with increasing age. The QTc was longer in females than in males over 14 years. A higher rate of incomplete right bundle branch block (RBBB) was observed in underweight students (21.58% vs. 15.10% in non-underweight students, P < 0.0001). Complete RBBB was the most common major ECG abnormality (1.6%). It was associated with height irrespective of age, sex, and body mass index (odds ratio 17.9; 95% confidence interval 5.0–64.6) and more frequent in students regularly practicing physical activity (1.80% vs. 1.02%, P = 0.0009).ConclusionHeart rate and QTc decreased with increasing age. The QTc was longer in females than in males over 14 years. RBBB was the most common major abnormality and was associated with higher stature. The prevalence of some cardiovascular risk factors in adolescents is provided.

Electrocardiographic and echocardiographic abnormalities in patients with cirrhosis due to viral hepatitis B: about 60 cases reported in the Hepatogastroenterologic Department at the Aristide Le Dantec Hospital in Dakar (HALD)

L’objectif de cette étude est d’évaluer les anomalies électrocardiographiques et échocardiographiques chez les patients atteints de cirrhose virale B et identifier leurs déterminants. Il s’agissait d’une étude prospective sur 8 mois aux services de d’Hépato-Gastroentérologie et de Cardiologie de l’hôpital Aristide Le Dantec de Dakar. Tous les patients atteints de cirrhose B virale et n’ayant pas de cardiopathie pré existante connue ont été inclus. Nous avons collecté et analysé les données épidémiologiques, cliniques, biologiques, échographiques, endoscopiques, électrocardiographiques et échocardiographiques (2D et Doppler) de tous les patients. Les données ont été saisies sur tableau Excel 2007 et analysées à l’aide du logiciel Sphinx version 5. La comparaison des variables a été faite par les tests de Chi 2 standard et Fisher. Le seuil de significativité a été arrêté à p< 0,05 pour ces 2 tests statistiques. Soixante patients ont été inclus. La prévalence de la cirrhose virale B était de 3,4%. L’âge moyen était de 41 ans et le sex ratio de 1,6 (37 hommes). La cirrhose était classée Child-Pugh B chez 29 patients (49%), Child-Pugh C et Child Pugh A respectivement chez 20 patients (33%) et 11 patients (18%). Les anomalies électrocardiographiques les plus fréquentes étaient l’hypertrophie ventriculaire gauche et l’allongement de l’intervalle QTc objectivés respectivement chez 27 patients (45%) et 24 patients (40%). L’analyse statistique a montré une association entre l’intervalle QTc prolongé et la gravité de la cirrhose (p = 0,01, RR = 2, IC = 0,24 à 0,341). Les anomalies échocardiographiques étaient dominées par la dilatation ventriculaire gauche (58,3%) et l’hyperdébit cardiaque (43,3%) avec un débit moyen de 6,05 l/min. L’analyse stastistique mettait en évidence une association significative entre la gravité de la cirrhose et l’hyperdébit cardiaque (p = 0,003; IC: 95% (de 2,883 à 38,58; RR = 2). Au total, 14 patients (23,3%) avaient une cardiomyopathie cirrhotique latente. La cirrhose virale B peut induire des anomalies cardiaques diverses et variées. Ces anomalies sont morphologiques et/ou électrophysiologiques et leur gravité semble corrélée à la sévérité de la cirrhose.

Abstract P023: Association of Sickle Cell Trait with Common Electrocardiographic Abnormalities in The REasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) Study

Introduction: Sickle cell disease (SCD) arises from an autosomal recessive mutation that leads to progressive vascular obstruction and early death. Sickle cell trait (SCT), the carrier status, is present in ~8% of African-Americans (AA) and is thought to be a benign condition, although evidence now suggests an association with worse cardiovascular and renal outcomes. Electrocardiogram (ECG) changes have been documented in SCD patients; however, similar studies in SCT individuals are lacking. We hypothesized that left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), atrial fibrillation (AF) and QTc prolongation would be more common in SCT carriers than non-carriers. Methods: SCT was genotyped in 10,731 AA participants in the REasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) study. Baseline risk factors were recorded from 2003-7. LVH was determined using Sokolow-Lyon criteria for all participants, and Cornell criteria in those with 12 lead ECGs (n = 8,690). AF was based on both self-report and ECG criteria. We assessed the association of SCT with LVH, AF, and QTc using multivariable logistic regression adjusting for age, sex, income, education, self-reported history of stroke, myocardial Infarction, diabetes, hypertension, and chronic kidney disease. Results: Among AA participants with ECG data and genotyping, 787 of 10,553 were SCT carriers (7.5%). AF was present in 814 (7.8%), LVH in 1,556 (14.7%) and QTc prolongation in 357 (3.4%). SCT status was associated with AF with an adjusted OR of 1.36 (95% CI 1.05, 1.76). SCT was not associated with LVH by Cornell criteria or Sokolow-Lyon (OR 1.16; 95% CI 0.94, 1.42). There was a significant age (continuous) by SCT interaction (p=0.02) with SCT associated with increased risk of LVH in younger but not older individuals. When stratified by the mean age of the cohort (65 years), younger individuals with SCT had an OR of 1.50 (95% CI 1.14, 1.97) for LVH, an association not seen in older individuals (OR 0.86; 95% CI 0.63-1.18). QTc prolongation was not associated with SCT (OR 0.97, 95% CI 0.64-1.47). Conclusions: SCT was associated with increased prevalence of AF in all individuals and with LVH in younger but not older individuals and was not associated with QTc prolongation. These data suggest SCT is not benign, and for the first time report the association of SCT with common ECG abnormalities. The association with AF and LVH is concerning with respect to increased stroke risk, especially the increased prevalence of LVH seen at younger ages in SCT. These data raise the question of whether individuals with SCT need more intensive monitoring and/or hypertension control than the general population.

The prevalence of electrocardiogram abnormalities in professional divers.

The underwater environment presents physiological challenges for the cardiovascular, renal and pulmonary systems. Increases in external hydrostatic pressure reduce the capacity of the venous compartment and cause blood to move toward the lung. The aim of this study was to evaluate retrospectively electrocardiographic (ECG) changes in a cohort of professional divers. Between January 2009 and January 2012, 225 randomly selected professional divers, 204 male (91%) and 21 female (9%) attended our clinic for their biannual diving medical assessment. Their ECG records were evaluated retrospectively. The most common ECG abnormality observed was incomplete right bundle branch block (IRBBB) in 30 divers (13.3%). Eleven divers (4.9%) showed right QRS axis deviation (seven with IRBBB). Six divers had a sinus tachycardia; in four divers there was early repolarization; three divers had ventricular extrasystoles; one diver had ST elevation in lead V3; there was one with sinus arrhythmia and another with T-wave inversion in leads V2, V3 and aVF. These ECG changes were evaluated retrospectively by a cardiologist who made various recommendations for further review including bubble contrast echocardiography for IRBBB. No serious ECG abnormalities were identified, but IRBBB should be further investigated because of its association with persistent (patent) foramen ovale. Rapid cardiological review of ECGs could be achieved using modern communications technology, such as telecardiography, and further clinical investigations directed by specialist recommendation arranged promptly if indicated.

Relationship between electrocardiographic findings and Cardiac Magnetic Resonance phenotypes in patients with Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

BackgroundQ waves and negative T waves are common electrocardiographic (ECG) abnormalities in patients with Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM). Several studies correlated ECG findings with presence and extent of fibrosis and hypertrophy; however, their significance remains incompletely clarified. Our study aimed to explain the mechanism behind Q and negative T waves by comparing their positions on a 12-lead ECG with phenotypes observed at Late Gadolinium Enhancement (LGE) Cardiac Magnetic Resonance (CMR). Methods12-lead ECG and LGE-CMR were performed in 88 consecutive patients with HCM (42 SD 16years, 65 males). Using Delta Thickness ratio (DT ratio), and “global” and “parietal” LGE at CMR, the extent and distribution of myocardial hypertrophy and fibrosis were studied in correlation with ECG abnormalities. ResultsQ waves in different leads were not associated with “parietal” LGE score. Lateral Q waves correlated with an increased DT ratio Inferior Septum/Lateral wall (p=0.01). A similar correlation between inferior Q waves and an increased DT Ratio Anterior wall/Inferior wall was of borderline statistical significance (p=0.06). As expected, ECG signs of LV hypertrophy related to a raised Left Ventricular Mass Index (LVMI) (p<0.0001) and mean wall thickness (p=0.01). Depolarization disturbances, including negative T waves in lateral (p=0.044) and anterior (p=0.031) leads correlated with “parietal” LGE scores while QT dispersion (p=0.0001) was associated with “global” LGE score. ConclusionIn HCM patients, Q waves are generated by asymmetric hypertrophy rather than by myocardial fibrosis, while negative T waves result from local LGE distribution at CMR.