BACKGROUND: The Romhilt-Estes point score system (RE) is an established ECG criterion for diagnosing left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). In this study, we assessed for the first time, whether RE and its components are predictive of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) independent of left ventricular (LV) mass. METHODS: Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) cases occurring between 2002 and 2014 in a Northwestern US metro region (catchment area approx. 1 million) were compared to geographic controls. ECGs and echocardiograms performed prior to the SCA and those of controls were acquired from the medical records and evaluated for the ECG criteria established in the RE score and for LV mass. RESULTS: Two hundred forty-seven SCA cases (age 68.3 ± 14.6, male 64.4%) and 330 controls (age 67.4 ± 11.5, male 63.6) were included in the analysis. RE scores were greater in cases than controls (2.5 ± 2.1 vs. 1.9 ± 1.7, p < .001), and SCA cases were more likely to meet definite LVH criteria (18.6% vs. 7.9%, p < .001). In a multivariable model including echocardiographic LVH and LV function, definite LVH remained independently predictive of SCA (OR 2.04, 95% CI 1.16-3.59, p = .013). The model was replicated with the individual ECG criteria, and only SV1.2 ≥ 30 mm and delayed intrinsicoid deflection remained significant predictors of SCA. CONCLUSION: Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) as defined by the RE point score system is associated with SCA independent of echocardiographic LVH and reduced LV ejection fraction. These findings support an independent role for purely electrical LVH, in the genesis of lethal ventricular arrhythmias.
BACKGROUND: The Romhilt-Estes point score system (RE) is an established ECG criterion for diagnosing left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). In this study, we assessed for the first time, whether RE and its components are predictive of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) independent of left ventricular (LV) mass. METHODS:Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) cases occurring between 2002 and 2014 in a Northwestern US metro region (catchment area approx. 1 million) were compared to geographic controls. ECGs and echocardiograms performed prior to the SCA and those of controls were acquired from the medical records and evaluated for the ECG criteria established in the RE score and for LV mass. RESULTS: Two hundred forty-seven SCA cases (age 68.3 ± 14.6, male 64.4%) and 330 controls (age 67.4 ± 11.5, male 63.6) were included in the analysis. RE scores were greater in cases than controls (2.5 ± 2.1 vs. 1.9 ± 1.7, p < .001), and SCA cases were more likely to meet definite LVH criteria (18.6% vs. 7.9%, p < .001). In a multivariable model including echocardiographic LVH and LV function, definite LVH remained independently predictive of SCA (OR 2.04, 95% CI 1.16-3.59, p = .013). The model was replicated with the individual ECG criteria, and only SV1.2 ≥ 30 mm and delayed intrinsicoid deflection remained significant predictors of SCA. CONCLUSION:Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) as defined by the RE point score system is associated with SCA independent of echocardiographic LVH and reduced LV ejection fraction. These findings support an independent role for purely electrical LVH, in the genesis of lethal ventricular arrhythmias.
Authors: Peter M Okin; Richard B Devereux; Markku S Nieminen; Sverker Jern; Lasse Oikarinen; Matti Viitasalo; Lauri Toivonen; Sverre E Kjeldsen; Björn Dahlöf Journal: Circulation Date: 2005-12-19 Impact factor: 29.690
Authors: A J Moss; W J Hall; D S Cannom; J P Daubert; S L Higgins; H Klein; J H Levine; S Saksena; A L Waldo; D Wilber; M W Brown; M Heo Journal: N Engl J Med Date: 1996-12-26 Impact factor: 91.245
Authors: Aapo L Aro; Olli Anttonen; Jani T Tikkanen; M Juhani Junttila; Tuomas Kerola; Harri A Rissanen; Antti Reunanen; Heikki V Huikuri Journal: Circ Arrhythm Electrophysiol Date: 2011-08-13
Authors: Peter M Okin; Richard B Devereux; Markku S Nieminen; Sverker Jern; Lasse Oikarinen; Matti Viitasalo; Lauri Toivonen; Sverre E Kjeldsen; Stevo Julius; Steven Snapinn; Björn Dahlöf Journal: Hypertension Date: 2004-06-01 Impact factor: 10.190
Authors: Larisa G Tereshchenko; Charles A Henrikson; Nona Sotoodehnia; Dan E Arking; Sunil K Agarwal; David S Siscovick; Wendy S Post; Scott D Solomon; Josef Coresh; Mark E Josephson; Elsayed Z Soliman Journal: J Am Heart Assoc Date: 2014-11-21 Impact factor: 5.501