Article Abstract
Aims: This study was performed to compare the difference in the incidence of abnormal high frequency QRS (HF-QRS) 12-lead finding and standard ECG ST-T segment changes, as an indicator of myocardial ischemia, between patients admitted to the accident and emergency (A&E) department for ischemic heart symptoms and a control group consisting of A&E departmental employees.
Methods: The study group consisted of 24 patients admitted to the A&E department with some ischemic heart symptoms and the control group consisted of hospital employees who had no symptoms of coronary artery disease (CAD). Results: Control participants were an average of 10 years younger than the patients in the study group, and also had less history of diabetes mellitus and hypertension. The incidence rate of ST-T changes (Control vs patients 5.9% vs 29.2%, p=0.064) and HF-QRS changes (Control vs patients 23.5% vs 33.3%, p=0.497) were not different between the control and study group. However, HF-QRS changes were more frequent than ST-T changes (29.3% vs 19.5%, p < 0. 0001). There were no correlations between ST-T and HF-QRS changes in the two groups (Cramers V 0.089, p = 0.568). In univariate logistic regression analyses, the only predictor of positive HF-QRS was age (odds ratio [OR]: 1.112; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.019–1.213); each additional year of age was associated with an 11.2% increase in the risk of positive HF-QRS. However, none of the variables was a predictor of ST-T changes with significance level set at 0.05.
Conclusion: In our pilot study, HF-QRS analysis detected more ECG changes indicating ischemia in acute settings than standard ECG ST segment changes. Larger studies are required to verify the role of HF-QRS technology in detecting early myocardial ischemia in pre-hospital setting.
Article Citation:
Author Speaks
– Jelena Djordjevic (Author)
