Ambulatory ECG-based T-wave alternans and heart rate turbulence predict high risk of arrhythmic events in patients with old myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND: Few studies have explored risk stratification of arrhythmic events in patients with ischemic heart diseases according to T-wave alternans (TWA) using modified moving average (MMA) method and heart rate turbulence (HRT). METHODS AND
RESULTS: A retrospective analysis of 63 patients who underwent MMA-based TWA and HRT divided the patients into 3 groups: group-C of 21 controls, group-O of 21 patients with old myocardial infarction (OMI) showing no episodes of sustained ventricular tachyarrhythmia (SVT), and group-V of 21 OMI patients with episodes of SVT who received an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator. Among the 3 groups, positive TWA (>or=65 microV) and impaired HRT were observed most frequently in group-V (P<0.05). Using a logistic regression model, TWA yielded an odds ratio of 4.9 (95% confidence interval: 1.2-19.6, P<0.05), which was the only significant covariate for the incidence of life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias during a mean follow-up of 72 months.
CONCLUSIONS: Patients with OMI showing episodes of SVT have a high risk for cardiac death because of abnormal repolarization and autonomic regulation. The analysis of MMA-based TWA and HRT can be a useful tool for predicting OMI patients at high risk of arrhythmic events.