Background:The presence of notched R or S waves without accompanying typical bundle branch blocks, or the existence of an additional wave like RSR' pattern in the original QRS complex (with a duration of <120 ms) has been defined as narrow QRS fragmentation. Persistence of the fQRS found on the admission electrocardiogram (ECG) in patients with acute ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) will have prognostic significance in the short term.Methods: The study was carried out using retrospectively collected data of 296 consecutive patients diagnosed as acute STEMI .fQRS group had fQRS both in admission and latest ECGs (n = 80, 27%), and non-fQRS group had no fQRS in last ECG (n = 216, 73%). Primary end points were in-hospital cardiovascular mortality, hemodynamic instability, and electrical instability.Results: MI localization, symptom duration, reperfusion therapy (RPT) rate, RPT modality, rate of successful reperfusion did not differ. Mean ejection fraction was lower and all end points were more frequent in the fQRS group. Irrespective of the RPT modality and success of RPT, mortality rate was higher in patients with persistent fQRS. GRACE score >120 points (OR = 4.765), age >70 years (OR = 4.041), anterior MI localization (OR = 3.148), and presence of fQRS (OR = 2.484) were significant predictors of primary end points. fQRS increased the predictive ability of GRACE score >120 about two folds (OR = 7.305, P < 0.001).Conclusion: Persistent fQRS on ECG is associated with poor prognosis and there is a lack of expected mortality benefit of RPT, particularly that of fibrinolytic therapy, in STEMI patients with fQRS.
Background: Narrow fragmented QRS (fQRS) has recently been recognized as a significant predictor of prognosis in various cardiovascular diseases. Hypothesis: We hypothesized that the presence of narrow fQRS on admission electrocardiogram (ECG) in patients with decompensated systolic heart failure (HF) of any cause would be associated with long-term prognosis. Methods: Patients hospitalized for decompensated HF due to ischemic or nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy (left ventricular ejection fraction <35%) were retrospectively analyzed. The primary clinical end points were cardiovascular mortality, sudden cardiac death, and rehospitalization for HF. Results: The mean duration of follow-up was 3.73 ± 1.41 years. Patients were classified as fQRS(+) group (n = 114; mean age, 63.49 ± 12.04 years) and fQRS(−) group (n = 113 patients; mean age, 65.04 ± 11.95 years). fQRS on ECG was significantly correlated with New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class (P = 0.001). In multivariate Cox proportional hazard analysis, narrow fQRS (odds ratio [OR]: 3.130, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.560-2.848, P = 0.001), chronic renal failure (OR: 2.455, 95% CI: 1.120-5.381, P = 0.025), NYHA class (OR: 8.305, 95% CI: 2.568-26.855, P < 0.0001), and hypoalbuminemia (OR: 2.099, 95% CI: 1.122-3.926, P = 0.020) were independent predictors of cardiovascular mortality. In Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, narrow fQRS on admission ECG predicted worse survival rate at 84 months; survival probability significantly decreased in the fQRS(+) group compared with fQRS(−) group (P < 0.0001). Conclusions: Presence of narrow fQRS is associated with worse NYHA functional class in patients hospitalized for decompensated HF. Narrow fQRS predicts cardiovascular mortality in a specific subgroup of systolic HF patients, namely those hospitalized for decompensated HF of both ischemic and nonischemic causes.
In concordance with these findings, the ejection fraction was slightly higher in Group A than in Group B, although this was not statistically significant (47% versus 44%). This trend continued during a 6-month follow-up after randomization. Our findings suggest that early administration of aldosterone blockers provides additional benefits after AMI, reducing the incidence of post-MI angina pectoris and rhythm and conduction disturbances.
Although from a limited number of selected patients, these findings indicate that repeat PMC is a safe and effective method, with follow-up results similar to a first intervention and should be considered as the first therapeutic option in suitable patients.
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