BACKGROUND: Prior studies have indicated that the magnitude of risk association of microvolt T-wave alternans (MTWA) testing appears to vary with the population studied. We performed a meta-analysis to determine the ability of MTWA to modify risk assessment of ventricular tachyarrhythmic events (VTEs) and sudden cardiac death (SCD) across a series of patient risk profiles using likelihood ratio (LR) testing, a measure of test performance independent of disease prevalence. METHODS: We identified original research articles published from January 1990 to January 2011 that investigate spectrally derived MTWA. Ventricular tachyarrhythmic event was defined as the total and arrhythmic mortality and nonfatal sustained or implantable cardioverter-defibrillator-treated ventricular tachyarrhythmias. Summary estimates were created for positive and nonnegative MTWA results using a random-effects model and were expressed as positive (LR+) and negative (LR-) LRs. RESULTS: Of 1,534 articles, 20 prospective cohort studies met our inclusion criteria, consisting of 5,945 subjects predominantly with prior myocardial infarction or left ventricular dysfunction. Although there was a modest association between positive MTWA and VTE (relative risk 2.45, 1.58-3.79) and nonnegative MTWA and VTE (3.68, 2.23-6.07), test performance was poor (positive MTWA: LR+ 1.78, LR- 0.43; nonnegative MTWA: LR+ 1.38, LR- 0.56). Subgroup analyses of subjects classified as prior VTE, post-myocardial infarction, SCD-HeFT type, and MADIT-II type had a similar poor test performance. A negative MTWA result would decrease the annualized risk of VTE from 8.85% to 6.37% in MADIT-II-type patients and from 5.91% to 2.60% in SCD-HeFT-type patients. CONCLUSIONS: Despite a modest association, results of spectrally derived MTWA testing do not sufficiently modify the risk of VTE to change clinical decisions. Copyright Â
BACKGROUND: Prior studies have indicated that the magnitude of risk association of microvolt T-wave alternans (MTWA) testing appears to vary with the population studied. We performed a meta-analysis to determine the ability of MTWA to modify risk assessment of ventricular tachyarrhythmic events (VTEs) and sudden cardiac death (SCD) across a series of patient risk profiles using likelihood ratio (LR) testing, a measure of test performance independent of disease prevalence. METHODS: We identified original research articles published from January 1990 to January 2011 that investigate spectrally derived MTWA. Ventricular tachyarrhythmic event was defined as the total and arrhythmic mortality and nonfatal sustained or implantable cardioverter-defibrillator-treated ventricular tachyarrhythmias. Summary estimates were created for positive and nonnegative MTWA results using a random-effects model and were expressed as positive (LR+) and negative (LR-) LRs. RESULTS: Of 1,534 articles, 20 prospective cohort studies met our inclusion criteria, consisting of 5,945 subjects predominantly with prior myocardial infarction or left ventricular dysfunction. Although there was a modest association between positive MTWA and VTE (relative risk 2.45, 1.58-3.79) and nonnegative MTWA and VTE (3.68, 2.23-6.07), test performance was poor (positive MTWA: LR+ 1.78, LR- 0.43; nonnegative MTWA: LR+ 1.38, LR- 0.56). Subgroup analyses of subjects classified as prior VTE, post-myocardial infarction, SCD-HeFT type, and MADIT-II type had a similar poor test performance. A negative MTWA result would decrease the annualized risk of VTE from 8.85% to 6.37% in MADIT-II-type patients and from 5.91% to 2.60% in SCD-HeFT-type patients. CONCLUSIONS: Despite a modest association, results of spectrally derived MTWA testing do not sufficiently modify the risk of VTE to change clinical decisions. Copyright Â
Authors: V Floré; P Claus; M A Vos; B Vandenberk; S Van Soest; K R Sipido; T Adriaenssens; J Bogaert; W Desmet; R Willems Journal: J Cardiovasc Transl Res Date: 2015-09-08 Impact factor: 4.132
Authors: Faisal M Merchant; Hui Zheng; Thomas Bigger; Richard Steinman; Takanori Ikeda; Roberto F E Pedretti; Jorge A Salerno-Uriarte; Catherine Klersy; Paul S Chan; Cheryl Bartone; Stefan H Hohnloser; Jeremy N Ruskin; Antonis A Armoundas Journal: Am Heart J Date: 2013-09-18 Impact factor: 4.749
Authors: Laura Burattini; Sumche Man; Sandro Fioretti; Francesco Di Nardo; Cees A Swenne Journal: Ann Noninvasive Electrocardiol Date: 2015-12-16 Impact factor: 1.468
Authors: Marcello Disertori; Michele M Gulizia; Giancarlo Casolo; Pietro Delise; Andrea Di Lenarda; Giuseppe Di Tano; Maurizio Lunati; Luisa Mestroni; Jorge Salerno-Uriarte; Luigi Tavazzi Journal: J Cardiovasc Med (Hagerstown) Date: 2016-04 Impact factor: 2.160