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. 2013 Sep;36(9):560-4.
doi: 10.1002/clc.22158. Epub 2013 Jun 10.

The prognostic significance of narrow fragmented QRS on admission electrocardiogram in patients hospitalized for decompensated systolic heart failure

Sevgi Ozcan  1 , Huseyin Altug Cakmak, Baris Ikitimur, Ece Yurtseven, Berna Stavileci, Ebru Yucel Tufekcioglu, Rasim Enar
Affiliations

The prognostic significance of narrow fragmented QRS on admission electrocardiogram in patients hospitalized for decompensated systolic heart failure

Sevgi Ozcan et al. Clin Cardiol. 2013 Sep.

Abstract

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.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Examples of fragmented QRS pattern.
Figure 2
Figure 2
In Kaplan‐Meier survival analysis, narrow fQRS on admission electrocardiogram predicted a worse survival rate at 84 months.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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