The prognostic value of the combined use of QRS distortion and fragmented QRS in patients with acute STEMI undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention.

BACKGROUND: No study has investigated the prognostic importance of the combined use of QRS distortion and fragmented QRS (fQRS) for risk stratification in acute ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI).

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prognostic value of the combined use of QRS distortion and fQRS in patients with acute STEMI undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (pPCI).

METHODS: A total of 454 patients with first STEMI who underwent pPCI were included in this study. Patients were categorized into three groups according to the presence of QRS distortion and fQRS on admission electrocardiography. Group I was defined as fQRS (-) and QRS distortion (-), group 2 was defined as fQRS (+) and QRS distortion (-), or fQRS (-) and QRS distortion (+), and group 3 was defined as both fQRS (+) and QRS distortion (+).

RESULTS: Patients in group III had a significantly higher in-hospital mortality rate compared with patients in groups I and II. These patients also had lower left ventricular ejection fraction and ST resolution ratios, higher maximum troponin, and higher frequency of three-vessel disease. Multivariate analysis indicated that group III (OR: 8.84, 95% CI: 2.73-28.62, p<0.001) was an independent predictors of in-hospital mortality.

CONCLUSION: The combined use of QRS distortion and fQRS provides additional prognostic value compared with the presence of QRS distortion or fQRS alone for early risk stratification in patients with STEMI treated with pPCI.