Selvester Scoring Research Articles

Significance of QRS scoring system in left ventricular function recovery after acute myocardial infarction.

The Selvester scoring system has been derived from ECG parameters for estimating infarct size. However, there is still a lack of evidence for Selvester score as an alternative to cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) myocardial injury makers for risk stratification and prediction of left ventricular function (LVF) recovery among patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). This multicentre observational study enrolled 328 STEMI patients (88.4% men, 57.3±10.6years of age) undergoing CMR examination 1week post-reperfusion therapy. Patients with baseline left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF)<50% underwent a follow-up CMR 6months later, categorized into baseline normal LVF (ejection fraction [EF]≥50% at baseline, n=155); recovered LVF (EF<50% at baseline and ≥50% after 6months, n=69); and reduced LVF (EF<50% at baseline and after 6months, n=104). The median follow-up was 4 (3-4) years for all patients, with 61 patients experiencing major adverse cardiovascular event (MACEs). Patients with reduced LVF had a higher risk of MACEs than those with baseline normal LVF (P=0.01), while the recovered LVF group had no significant difference (P>0.05). A Selvester score >10 doubled the risk of MACEs in patients with systolic dysfunction (1.91 [1.02 to 3.58], P=0.04). Additionally, Selvester score, baseline LVEF, transmural infarction, and peak CK-MB were independent predictors of recovered LVF, with Selvester score providing incremental predictive value to peak CK-MB in predicting recovered LVF (∆AUC=0.07, P<0.05). The Selvester score improves risk stratification among STEMI patients beyond LVEF and provide independent and incremental information to clinical parameters in predicting recovered LVF.

The Selvester QRS score as an estimative of myocardial injury in acute chagasic patients from the Brazilian Amazon

BackgroundIn the Brazilian Amazon, a new epidemiological profile of Chagas disease transmission, the oral route, has been detected and cited as being responsible for the increase in acute cases in Brazil. The clinical evaluation of acute Chagas disease (ACD) has been a challenge since it can progress to a chronic phase with cardiac alterations, and the follow-up by modern diagnostic methods is very difficult due to the socio-geographical characteristics of the Brazilian Amazon. Thus, alternatives should be sought to alleviate this problem. We conducted a study to evaluate subjects with ACD using the 12-lead ECG QRS score (Selvester score) as an estimative of myocardial injury progression before and after ACD treatment.MethodsThe study included indigenous subjects from the Amazon region with ACD in clinical follow-up at the Fundação de Medicina Tropical Dr. Heitor Vieira Dourado (FMT-HVD) Chagas Disease outpatient clinic in the state of Amazonas, Brazil. The control group consisted of 31 healthy volunteers with no history of heart disease and no reactive serology for Chagas disease. Baseline ECG was performed in all subjects. The Selvester scoring method was performed according to the standardized guide (< 3 points: no myocardial injury,> 3: points × 3% = % of the predicted LV infarction).ResultsA total of 62 subjects were included, 31 as cases and 31 as controls. The mean follow-up of the case group was 17 months. The control group presented normal ECG. The case group presented 13 alterations before treatment and 11 after. Nineteen individuals presented scores > 3 points, 6 before and 13 after. In 19.36% of subjects, myocardial injury was found before treatment and in 41.94% after treatment.ConclusionThis is the first study that uses the Selvester score (SS) to predict myocardial injury in subjects with ACD. The results of this study suggest the significant presence of myocardial injury from the beginning of treatment to the period post treatment of ACD, which demonstrates that the SS can be applied for stratification and follow-up of Chagas disease in the Amazon region.

Estimating the extent of myocardial damage in patients with STEMI using the DETERMINE score

BackgroundRecently, a simple ECG score (DETERMINE score) has been proposed for estimating myocardial scar in patients with ischaemic cardiomyopathy. We sought to evaluate the usefulness of the DETERMINE score for...

Performance of 12-lead electrocardiogram Selvester QRS scoring criteria to diagnose myocardial scar in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

BackgroundThe Selvester QRS score can identify the presence and extent of myocardial scar in ischemic and nonischemic cardiomyopathy, but its performance in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) has not been assessed.MethodsConsecutive patients with HCM referred to our hospital between January 2012 and July 2016 were prospectively enrolled. All patients underwent cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) and 12‐lead electrocardiography. The Selvester QRS score was used to evaluate the presence and extent of myocardial scarring, and the results were compared with that obtained with the gold standard—late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) on CMR.ResultsA total of 135 HCM patients were enrolled. LGE was present in 93 of 135 (69%) patients. The median LGE mass was 5 (0–14) g, and the median proportion of total left ventricular mass showing LGE was 4% (0%–10%). A total of 92 patients had Selvester score ≥1. The highest score recorded was 13; the median score was 1 (0–3). In receiver operating curve analysis, Selvester score ≥1 was identified as the optimum score for predicting presence of LGE enhancement; the area under the curve was 0.826 (95% CI, 0.752–0.900; p < .001). Significant positive correlation was seen between the Selvester score and the extent of LGE enhancement (Spearman ρ, .572; p < .001). The Selvester scoring system correctly identified all LGE segments in 13 of 93 (14%) patients and some LGE segments in 39 (41.9%) patients.ConclusionsThe Selvester QRS score appears to be a convenient and reliable method to determine the presence and extent of myocardial scar in patients with HCM.

Semi-automated QRS score as a predictor of survival in CRT treated patients with strict left bundle branch block

BackgroundCardiac Resynchronization Therapy (CRT) is widely used for treating selected heart failure patients, but patients with myocardial scar respond worse to treatment. The Selvester QRS scoring system estimates myocardial scar burden using 12-lead ECG. This study's objective was to investigate the scores correlation to mortality in a CRT population. Methods and resultsData on consecutive CRT patients was collected. 401 patients with LBBB and available ECG data were included in the study. QuAReSS software was used to perform Selvester scoring. Mean Selvester score was 6.4, corresponding to 19% scar burden. The endpoint was death or heart transplant; outcome was analyzed using Cox proportional hazards models. A Selvester score >8 was significantly associated with higher risk of the combined endpoint (HR 1.59, p=.014, CI 1.09–2.3). ConclusionHigher Selvester scores correlate to mortality in CRT patients with strict LBBB and might be of value in prognosticating survival.

Selvester scoring in patients with strict LBBB using the QUARESS software

BackgroundEstimation of the infarct size from body-surface ECGs in post-myocardial infarction patients has become possible using the Selvester scoring method. Automation of this scoring has been proposed in order to speed-up the measurement of the score and improving the inter-observer variability in computing a score that requires strong expertise in electrocardiography. In this work, we evaluated the quality of the QuAReSS software for delivering correct Selvester scoring in a set of standard 12-lead ECGs. MethodStandard 12-lead ECGs were recorded in 105 post-MI patients prescribed implantation of an implantable cardiodefibrillator (ICD). Amongst the 105 patients with standard clinical left bundle branch block (LBBB) patterns, 67 had a LBBB pattern meeting the strict criteria. The QuAReSS software was applied to these 67 tracings by two independent groups of cardiologists (from a clinical group and an ECG core laboratory) to measure the Selvester score semi-automatically. Using various level of agreement metrics, we compared the scores between groups and when automatically measured by the software. ResultsThe average of the absolute difference in Selvester scores measured by the two independent groups was 1.4±1.5 score points, whereas the difference between automatic method and the two manual adjudications were 1.2±1.2 and 1.3±1.2 points. Eighty-two percent score agreement was observed between the two independent measurements when the difference of score was within two point ranges, while 90% and 84% score agreements were reached using the automatic method compared to the two manual adjudications. ConclusionThe study confirms that the QuAReSS software provides valid measurements of the Selvester score in patients with strict LBBB with minimal correction from cardiologists.

Simplified Selvester Score: a practical electrocardiographic instrument to predict response to CRT

AimsTo investigate the LBBB Selvester Scoring System (LBBB-SSc) and the Simplified-SSc prognostic impact in predicting response to CRT, all cause and cardiac mortality, heart failure (HF) hospitalizations and onset of arrhythmias in HF patients undergoing CRT. MethodsWe retrospectively evaluated LBBB-SSc and Simplified-SSc of 172 consecutive HF patients with true-LBBB who underwent CRT. Response to CRT was defined as the improvement of LVEF of at least 10% or as the reduction of LVESV of at least 15% at 6-month follow-up. Logistic regression analysis and Cox proportional hazard analysis were performed to evaluate each endpoint related risk according to LBBB-SSc and Simplified-SSc. ResultsThe LBBB-SSc and the Simplified-SSc were inversely correlated with response to CRT. Myocardial scar at both scores was independently associated to non-response to CRT. No correlation was observed between LBBB-SSc or Simplified-SSc and other endpoints. ConclusionsIn HF patients with true-LBBB, Simplified-SSc is able to predict response to CRT.

Automatic Selvester QRS scoring in patients with left bundle branch block

Introduction: The Selvester QRS scoring system uses surface ECG to estimate the myocardial infarct size of patients including those with left bundle branch block (LBBB). The measurements used in this multi-criteria method require a very lengthy process. Also, it depends on the observers' ability to consistently detect subtle QRS patterns. Our aim is to develop an algorithm to automatically detect and measure the QRS features used for the Selvester scoring in order to improve its reproducibility and streamline its measurement. Methods: We developed a software for the QUantitative and Automatic REport of Selvester Score (QuAReSS) in a group of patients with LBBB from the MADIT-CRT. The algorithms were developed using training (n = 40) and validation (n = 180) sets consisting of signal-averaged 12-lead ECGs (1000 Hz sampling) recorded from 220 LBBB patients. The algorithms include automatic detection of depolarization waves following Selvester definitions (Q, R, S, R′, and S′), interval measurements (QRS complex, Q wave, R wave), and notches in the initial 40 ms (NchInit40) of the QRS. The leads I, II, aVL, aVF, V1, V2, V5 and V6 are processed. After developing the detection thresholds and other detection rules on the training set, we assessed the performance of the automatic detection on the validation set by having automatic results adjudicated by an expert scorer (B.W.). Results: A total of 5400 measurements were compared between automated and adjudicated results. The average of absolute differences between automated and adjudicated Selvester scoring was 1.2 ± 1.5 points. The range of average differences for continuous measurements of wave locations and interval durations varied between 0 and 6 ms. Best performance was found for R peak detection (0 ± 11 ms), and the worst for S′ (−5.7 ± 14.5 ms). Erroneous detection of Q (n = 1080), R (n = 1440), S (n = 1440), R′ (n = 360), and S′ (n = 360) waves (oversensed or missed) were 3%, 1%, 1%, 16%, and 6%, respectively. Seven percent of NchInit40 (n = 360) was misdetected. Conclusion: We have developed a method to enable semi-automated Selvester scoring of standard 12-lead ECGs. We estimate that the use of the software enable a 15× time gain in computing the score. We could improve the method further by adjusting the rules for R′ detection following the validation phase.

Development of an Automated Updated Selvester QRS Scoring System Using SWT-Based QRS Fractionation Detection and Classification

The Selvester score is an effective means for estimating the extent of myocardial scar in a patient from low-cost ECG recordings. Automation of such a system is deemed to help implementing low-cost high-volume screening mechanisms of scar in the primary care. This paper describes, for the first time to the best of our knowledge, an automated implementation of the updated Selvester scoring system for that purpose, where fractionated QRS morphologies and patterns are identified and classified using a novel stationary wavelet transform (SWT)-based fractionation detection algorithm. This stage informs the two principal steps of the updated Selvester scoring scheme--the confounder classification and the point awarding rules. The complete system is validated on 51 ECG records of patients detected with ischemic heart disease. Validation has been carried out using manually detected confounder classes and computation of the actual score by expert cardiologists as the ground truth. Our results show that as a stand-alone system it is able to classify different confounders with 94.1% accuracy whereas it exhibits 94% accuracy in computing the actual score. When coupled with our previously proposed automated ECG delineation algorithm, that provides the input ECG parameters, the overall system shows 90% accuracy in confounder classification and 92% accuracy in computing the actual score and thereby showing comparable performance to the stand-alone system proposed here, with the added advantage of complete automated analysis without any human intervention.

Impact of ostium secundum atrial septal defect closure on the resolution of falsely positive electrocardiographic criteria for myocardial scarring

BackgroundElectrocardiographic (ECG) Selvester QRS score criteria with false indication of anteroseptal scarring consistent with myocardial infarction have been found in patients with ostium secundum atrial septal defect (OS-ASD). The objective of this study was to evaluate ECGs pre and post percutaneous transcatheter OS-ASD closure to test the hypothesis that the falsely positive criteria for anteroseptal scar decline 1 day post procedure. MethodsPatients (n=34, mean age 48 ±17 years, 79% female) that underwent OS-ASD closure and had undergone pre procedure cardiac magnetic resonance imaging showing no left ventricular (LV) scarring were included in this study. ECGs pre and 1 day post procedure were assessed according to the QRS Selvester scoring system and compared. ResultsMean Selvester score in anteroseptal regions pre procedure was 6.6 (0.0–6.8) % LV scar and decreased to 4.3 (0.0–6.0) % LV scar one day after the procedure (p=0.01). Mean Selvester score in lateral regions pre procedure was 3.7 (0.0–3.0) %LV scar and decreased to 2.8 (0.0–0.0) % LV scar one day post procedure (p=0.25). DiscussionOS-ASD patients with falsely positive anteroseptal scar criteria by the Selvester QRS score pre procedure have a significant decrease in anteroseptal Selvester score 1 day post procedure. The falsely positive anteroseptal scar criteria did not completely resolve 1 day post procedure. Further studies are needed to investigate the relationship between ECG criteria for anteroseptal scar and right ventricular volume overload in late follow up.

Displaying computerized electrocardiogram recordings on smartphones

Conclusion: The automated Selvester scoring system we implemented has high accuracy and comparable to expert manual scoring. We observed that the largest score differences between manual and automated resulted from the classification of rS and Q patterns. The computer algorithm is designed not to detect small initial deflections (∼20 μV), which human readers code as R waves when using a ×4 high-gain display.

Considerations for clinical studies for electrocardiographs

Conclusion: The automated Selvester scoring system we implemented has high accuracy and comparable to expert manual scoring. We observed that the largest score differences between manual and automated resulted from the classification of rS and Q patterns. The computer algorithm is designed not to detect small initial deflections (∼20 μV), which human readers code as R waves when using a ×4 high-gain display.

Detection of periodic variations including T-wave Alternans

Conclusion: The automated Selvester scoring system we implemented has high accuracy and comparable to expert manual scoring. We observed that the largest score differences between manual and automated resulted from the classification of rS and Q patterns. The computer algorithm is designed not to detect small initial deflections (∼20 μV), which human readers code as R waves when using a ×4 high-gain display.

Automated age- and gender-specific Selvester scoring system for electrocardiogram-estimated myocardial infarct size

Automated age- and gender-specific Selvester scoring system for electrocardiogram-estimated myocardial infarct size

Development of an automated Selvester Scoring System for estimating the size of myocardial infarction from the electrocardiogram

Although the Selvester Scoring System for estimating the size of myocardial infarction from the standard 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) has potential clinical value, it has found limited application because of the difficulties in making precise and reproducible measurements. The objective of this study was to develop software to automate the Selvester Scoring System, thus allowing wider application of the technique. The study was carried out using a training set consisting of ECG data recorded from 705 individuals with and without previous myocardial infarction. Algorithms for the 50 criteria in the Selvester Scoring System were iteratively improved by comparison of scores obtained by 2 experienced cardiologist investigators with those generated by the program. The final version was evaluated in a test set consisting of 60 ECGs by comparing scores derived by cardiologist investigator with those obtained by the program. The disagreements occurred only in 1.1% of the score comparisons and in 1.6% of the specific measurements. In all cases in which a disagreement occurred, it resulted from very small differences in measurements. These results indicate that the algorithm for automated application of the Selvester Scoring System is adequate for both clinical and research applications.

Specificity and sensitivity of QRS criteria for diagnosis of single and multiple myocardial infarcts

A subset of 3 criteria from the complete Selvester scoring system has been proposed earlier for electrocardiographic screening of healed myocardial infarcts. This subset yielded 95% specificity and high sensitivity for single anterior and inferior infarcts. In the present study, an automated version of these criteria was applied to 1,344 electrocardiograms from normal subjects (473 normal subjects as determined by cardiac catheterization and 871 apparently normal subjects by history and physical examination), to 706 from subjects with single myocardial infarction, and to 131 from subjects with combined anterior and inferior myocardial infarcts. Of the single infarcts, 366 had inferior, 277 anterior and 63 posterolateral locations. Presence and location of infarcts were judged from left ventriculograms and coronary angiograms. Overall specificity was only 86%, whereas overall sensitivity for the infarct population was 77%. Specificity was lower in men than in women; it was also lower in older than in younger subjects. One of the screening criteria (R ≥ 40 ms in V 1) may possibly be eliminated to augment specificity; this can be done with only minor loss of sensitivity. Differences in wave form measurements between the manual and computer methods account for a large part of the deterioration of specificity in this study compared with previously published results. Computer application of the screening criteria requires altered criteria limits in comparison with those used in manual application. Probably sex- and age-dependent criteria limits should be used.

Performance of new criteria for right ventricular hypertrophy and myocardial infarction in patients with pulmonary hypertension due to cor pulmonale and mitral stenosis

Historically, electrocardiographic criteria for right ventricular (RV) hypertrophy has achieved high specificity but low sensitivity. Recently, however, Butler-Leggett et al, have introduced three criteria that attained a 66% sensitivity in a population with RV hypertrophy due to mitral stenosis while maintaining a 95% specificity in an extensive normal control group. Electrocardiographic diagnosis of RV hypertrophy is principally dependent on changes in the QRS complex that may be masked or mimicked by myocardial infarction (MI). This dilemma has been confirmed by documentation of the low specificity of both the Selvester QRS scoring system for MI size estimation (>3 points) and its screening subset (>0 points) in a pure mitral stenosis population. This study introduces the population characterized by RV hypertrophy due to cor pulmonale, which has a mean pulmonary arterial systolic pressure that is higher than the mean for the mitral stenosis population and consequently suggests more severe RV hypertrophy. When compared, the Butler-Leggett criteria for RV hypertrophy are more sensitive in the new population than in the mitral stenosis population (89% versus 60%) and the Selvester QRS scoring system is less specific (12% versus 60%). Three sequential steps are suggested for electrocardiographic analysis: (1) diagnosis of RV hypertrophy using the Butler-Leggett criteria, (2) diagnosis of MI using the Selvester screening criteria in those patients with step 1 negative, and (3) estimation of MI size using the complete Selvester scoring system in patients with step 1 negative and step 2 positive.