Electrophysiological ventricular substrate of stroke: a prospective cohort study in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study.

OBJECTIVES: The goal of the study was to determine an association of cardiac ventricular substrate with thrombotic stroke (TS), cardioembolic stroke (ES) and intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH).
DESIGN: Prospective cohort study.
SETTING: The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study in 1987-1989 enrolled adults (45-64 years), selected as a probability sample from four US communities (Minneapolis, Minnesota; Washington, Maryland; Forsyth, North Carolina; Jackson, Mississippi). Visit 2 was in 1990-1992, visit 3 in 1993-1995, visit 4 in 1996-1998 and visit 5 in 2011-2013. PARTICIPANTS: ARIC participants with analysable ECGs and no history of stroke were included (n=14 479; age 54±6 y; 55% female; 24% black). Ventricular substrate was characterised by cardiac memory, spatial QRS-T angle (QRS-Ta), sum absolute QRST integral (SAIQRST), spatial ventricular gradient magnitude (SVGmag), premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) and tachycardia-dependent intermittent bundle branch block (TD-IBBB) on 12-lead ECG at visits 1-5. OUTCOME: Adjudicated TS included a first definite or probable thrombotic cerebral infarction, ES-a first definite or probable non-carotid cardioembolic brain infarction. Definite ICH was included if it was the only stroke event.
RESULTS: Over a median 24.5 years follow-up, there were 899 TS, 400 ES and 120 ICH events. Cox proportional hazard risk models were adjusted for demographics, cardiovascular disease, risk factors, atrial fibrillation, atrial substrate and left ventricular hypertrophy. After adjustment, PVCs (HR 1.72; 95% CI 1.02 to 2.92), QRS-Ta (HR 1.15; 95% CI 1.03 to 1.28), SAIQRST (HR 1.20; 95% CI 1.07 to 1.34) and time-updated SVGmag (HR 1.19; 95% CI 1.08 to 1.32) associated with ES. Similarly, PVCs (HR 1.53; 95% CI 1.03 to 2.26), QRS-Ta (HR 1.08; 95% CI 1.01 to 1.16), SAIQRST (HR 1.07; 95% CI 1.01 to 1.14) and time-updated SVGmag (HR 1.11; 95% CI 1.04 to 1.19) associated with TS. TD-IBBB (HR 3.28; 95% CI 1.03 to 10.46) and time-updated SVGmag (HR 1.23; 95% CI 1.03 to 1.47) were associated with ICH.
CONCLUSIONS: PVC burden (reflected by cardiac memory) is associated with ischaemic stroke. Transient cardiac memory (likely through TD-IBBB) precedes ICH. © Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2021. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.

This large prospective cohort with long-term follow-up and well-adjudicated stroke events provided sufficient statistical power for rigorous adjustment.

While the statistical power for ischaemic stroke was adequate, there were fewer intracerebral haemorrhage events, which challenged a fair comparison of models for ischaemic and haemorrhagic stroke events.

Thrombotic stroke (TS) included non-embolic and arterial embolic stroke (ES). The combined analysis of these two subtypes of ischaemic stroke is suboptimal and did not discriminate between these two types of TS.

In 2017, the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association guideline lowered the threshold for the definition of hypertension in adults (≥130/80 mm Hg). We kept the historical definition of hypertension (≥140/90 mm Hg) and also adjusted for actual blood pressure values, considering the paramount importance of hypertension as a stroke risk factor.

Over the study period, the precision of stroke diagnosis has been strengthened, and cerebral amyloid angiopathy diagnostic criteria have been changed.

Assessment of paroxysmal arrhythmic events (atrial fibrillation (AF), premature atrial complexes, premature ventricular contractions (PVCs), tachycardia-dependent intermittent bundle branch block) on a 10 s ECG cannot accurately represent the burden of arrhythmia. It is possible that the analyses were not sufficiently adjusted for AF, and the association between PVC and ES is weaker than reported.

Introduction

Stroke remains the leading cause of long-term disability and the fifth-leading cause of death in the USA.1 Despite declining stroke incidence in adults over 65 years of age,2 the global lifetime risk of stroke increased from 22.8% in 1990 to 24.9% in 2016.3 Large portions, approximately 90.5% of stroke risk, could be attributed to traditional cardiovascular risk factors, such as hypertension, obesity, hyperlipidaemia, hyperglycaemic, renal dysfunction, smoking and sedentary lifestyle, as well as air pollution.4 Nevertheless, a recent genome-wide association study of stroke identified 22 previously unknown genetic loci, pointing towards additional, currently unrecognised mechanisms of stroke.5 The most accurate stroke risk prediction is provided by CHA2DS2-VASc and P2-CHA2DS2VASc risk scores6 in persons with and without7 atrial fibrillation (AF). However, C-statistics for the stroke risk scores remain suboptimal (~0.6 to 0.7). Thus, it is essential to understand additional factors beyond those already accounted for in the risk assessment models.

Several studies reported an association of both premature ventricular complexes (PVCs) and left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) with incident stroke.8–11 This suggests that an abnormal ventricular substrate, with or without atrial myopathy, may serve as an independent risk factor. Furthermore, it was previously shown that left ventricular interstitial fibrosis is associated with interatrial conduction abnormalities, characterised by P-wave indices.12 However, the role of a ventricular substrate in stroke mechanisms is not entirely clear.

Global electrical heterogeneity (GEH) recently emerged as a global measure of an abnormal electrophysiological substrate in the ventricles of the heart.13 GEH is a concept based on a spatial ventricular gradient (SVG) theory.14 It was mathematically demonstrated that the sum of the QRS and T vectors should theoretically be zero if depolarisation and repolarisation occurred in the same manner. By measuring the SVG, one could quantify the global dispersion of activation and recovery. SVG is independent of the type of ventricular activation.15 16 Therefore, it can be measured in individuals with or without AF or ventricular conduction abnormalities, facilitating a study of ventricular substrate. An association of GEH with stroke has not been previously studied.

We conducted this study with the goal of uncovering novel risk factors of stroke, to determine an association of electrophysiological ventricular substrate (quantified by GEH and traditional ECG metrics) with thrombotic, cardioembolic or haemorrhagic stroke subtypes. We hypothesised that GEH is associated with incident stroke in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study participants.

Methods

Study population

The ARIC study enrolled 15 792 participants (age 45–64 years) between 1987 and 1989.17 In the current study, we included ARIC study participants with recorded resting 12-lead ECG and measured GEH13; n=15 776. ECGs were recorded during visits 1–5. We excluded participants with a prevalent stroke (defined18 as previous stroke or transient ischaemic attack identified by a standardised interview) that occurred before the first ECG GEH measurement (n=278). Further exclusion criteria are shown in figure 1. The final sample included 14 479 participants.

Figure 1

Flow chart of study cohort development. ARIC, Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities; GEH, global electrical heterogeneity.

Exposure: GEH and other measures of ventricular substrate

We analysed resting 12-lead ECGs of the first five study visits.13 19–21 Visit 1 was coordinated in 1987–1989, visit 2 in 1990–1992, visit 3 in 1993–1995, visit 4 in 1996–1998 and visit 5 in 2011–2013. Electrophysiological ventricular substrate was characterised by novel ECG measures (GEH), by the presence of premature ventricular complexes (PVCs) on 10 s 12-lead ECG, and by traditional ECG measures (QRS duration, Bazett-corrected QTc interval, electrocardiographic LVH (ECG-LVH), bundle branch block (BBB) or interventricular conduction delay (IVCD)).

Each beat on a 10 s 12-lead ECG was manually labelled by at least two physicians or physicians-in-training investigators (JAJ, KL, KP, KKP, NEC, LFH, MK-K and LGT) at the Oregon Health & Science University (Tereshchenko laboratory,)19–21 and PVCs were identified. We created a time-coherent median beat with identified isoelectric heart vector origin point.22 A median beat was comprised of only one (dominant) type. In this study, we included three groups of median beats. Normal (N) group included median beats conducting from atria to ventricles (normal sinus, atrial paced, junctional and ectopic atrial median beats). The ventricular (V) group included median beats with ventricular activation originating in ventricles (ventricular paced, and both atrial and ventricular paced median beats). The supraventricular (S) group included median beats of AF or atrial flutter with an atria-to-ventricle type of ventricular conduction.

GEH was measured by spatial QRS-T angle, sum absolute QRST integral (SAIQRST), and SVG magnitude, azimuth, and elevation.23 We used two approaches for measurement of SVG vectors and QRS-T angles: area-based and peak-based.19 22 23 The open-source MATLAB (MathWorks, Natick, Massachusetts, USA) software code for GEH and the heart vector origin measurement is provided at https://physionet.org/physiotools/geh and https://githubcom/Tereshchenkolab/Origin.

QRS duration, QTc, RaVL and SV3 amplitudes were measured by the 12 SL algorithm as implemented in the Magellan ECG Research Workstation V2 (GE Marquette Electronics, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA). Cornell voltage was calculated as the sum of RaVL and SV3 amplitudes. ECG-LVH was defined as a sex-adjusted Cornell product (Cornell voltage times QRS duration)24 >2440 mm×ms.

BBB was identified by the Minnesota Code25 (left BBB code 7.1, right BBB code 7.2 and 7.3, fascicular block code 7.6–7.7, bifascicular block code 7.8). IVCD was defined as a QRS duration above 120 ms in the absence of BBB criteria.

Tachycardia-dependent intermittent BBB (TD-IBBB) was diagnosed on a 12-lead ECG if an intermittent BBB morphology appeared on a normal sinus beat with shortened RR’ interval or premature atrial complexe (PAC) with aberrant ventricular conduction (online supplemental figures 1 and 2).

The outcomes: incident stroke subtypes

The follow-up procedures of ARIC study participants26 have been described previously. In this study, we included the follow-up period from 1 January 1987 to 31 December 2018, for participants enrolled in Forsyth County, Minneapolis and Washington County field centres. The follow-up period from 1 January 1987 to 31 December 31st, 2017, was included for participants enrolled in the city of Jackson field centre. Methods for the ascertainment of stroke events have been previously described.27 Briefly, records for possible stroke-related hospitalisations were selected based on the International Classification of Diseases, ninth Revision (ICD-9) codes 430–438 until 1997, ICD-9 codes 430–436 and ICD-10 codes G45.X, I60.X, I61.X, I62.X, I63.X, I65.X, I66.X and I67.X afterward. Data on fatal stroke were collected through linkage with the National Death Index. Strokes were then identified by a computer algorithm and adjudicated by physician reviewers.27

In the current study, we included three incident stroke subtype outcomes: (1) a first definite or probable thrombotic cerebral infarction (thrombotic stroke, TS), (2) a first definite or probable non-carotid cardioembolic brain infarction (embolic stroke, ES) and (3) an only definite intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH). If a stroke case met the criteria for two ischaemic stroke categories, the following hierarchy was used: haemorrhagic above cardioembolic, above thrombotic, as previously described.27 In this study, we considered multiple stroke events for the same participant. Thus, a participant could develop all three incident stroke subtype outcomes as three separate events.

AF, ectopic atrial complexes and use of anticoagulants/aspirin

Prevalent AF included AF or atrial flutter diagnosed on the first ECG. Incident AF included AF detected on follow-up 12-lead ECG or hospital discharge records and death certificates with ICD‐9‐CM code 427.31 or 427.32 or ICD‐10 code I48 listed in any position.28 29

PACs were identified on 10 s 12-lead ECG, as described above.

The ARIC study participants were asked to bring their medications to the clinic, where ARIC staff filled out the Medication Survey Form (based partly on self-report by the participants). The use of anticoagulant and aspirin-containing medications in the past 2 weeks was self-reported and validated by medication inventory at every study visit.

Measures of an atrial substrate and use of antiarrhythmic medications

The atrial substrate was characterised by the following P-wave indices: frontal P axis, P-terminal force in lead V1 (PTFV1) and PR interval duration. All P-wave indices, including amplitude and duration of the terminal negative phase (P-prime) of biphasic (positive/negative) P wave in lead V1, were automatically measured by the 12SL algorithm (GE Marquette Electronics, Milwaukee, WI). PTFV1 was calculated as a product of P-prime amplitude and duration.30 31

The use of antiarrhythmic medications included in the study was self-reported and subsequently validated by medication inventory. Antiarrhythmic medications included class I, II (beta-blockers), III, IV (phenylalkylamines and benzothiazepines calcium channel blockers) or V (digoxin) antiarrhythmic agents.

Carotid artery plaque

Carotid artery intima–media thickness was measured in three locations of the carotid arteries bilaterally; at the extracranial carotid artery 1 cm proximal to the dilatation of the carotid bulb, the carotid bifurcation 1 cm proximal to the flow divider, and the internal carotid artery 1 cm distal to the flow divider, using high-resolution B-mode ultrasound (Biosound 2000 II SA; Biosound, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA), as previously described.32–34 ARIC ultrasound readers considered an atherosclerotic plaque to be present at any of the six segments if wall thickness exceeded 1.5 mm, or if there was a lumen encroachment or irregular intimal surface or image characteristics indicative of structural heterogeneity of the arterial wall.

Prevalent cardiovascular disease and common cardiovascular risk factors

The baseline prevalence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) was defined as the presence of prevalent coronary heart disease (CHD), peripheral artery disease (PAD) or heart failure (HF) at the first visit. Prevalent CHD included a self-reported physician-diagnosed heart attack, baseline ECG evidence of myocardial infarction by the Minnesota code,35 or a history of coronary revascularisation (either via coronary artery bypass surgery or percutaneous coronary intervention). Prevalent PAD was defined as self-reported history of leg pain during walking that disappeared within 10 min after rest, an Ankle‐Brachial Index <0.9 or leg artery revascularisation.36 Prevalent HF was defined as asymptomatic (stage 3 by the Gothenburg criteria) HF, manifesting by cardiac and pulmonary symptoms, on medical treatment37 or self-reported use of HF medication.

Body mass index (BMI) was calculated as weight (kg)/height (m)2. Waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) was calculated as a measure of fat distribution. During the clinic visit, sitting blood pressure was measured three times, each after 5 min of rest. The average of the second and third of three consecutive measurements was used to calculate systolic and diastolic blood pressure levels. Hypertension was defined as blood pressure of ≥140/90 mm Hg, or self-reported use of antihypertensive drugs. Self-reported use of antihypertensive and lipid-lowering medications in the past 2 weeks was validated by medication inventory at every study visit. Diabetes was defined as nonfasting blood glucose ≥200 mg/dL, fasting blood glucose ≥126 mg/dL, self-reported physician diagnosis of diabetes or self-reported use of drugs to treat diabetes. Kidney function was assessed by estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) calculated using the chronic kidney disease (CKD) Epidemiology Collaboration equation (CKD-EPI).38 Physical activity was measured during leisure time, using the semicontinuous indices ranging from 1 (low) to 5 (high), defined by modified Baecke questionnaire.39 Participants self-reported smoking and consumption of alcoholic beverages.

Statistical analyses

Continuous variables were presented as means and SD. We used analysis of variance (for normally distributed continuous variables) and χ2 test (for categorical variables) to compare baseline clinical characteristics in participants with 0–5 abnormal GEH parameters.

Analysis of circular variables

An unadjusted comparison of circular variables (spatial QRS-T angle, SVG azimuth and SVG elevation) was performed using the Mardia-Watson-Wheeler test.

Because distributions of QRS-T and SVG elevation angles were normal or nearly normal, we included them in all conventional statistical analyses without transformation. The SVG azimuth angle was transformed40 by doubling its value and then adding 360°.

Survival analyses

We built cause-specific Cox proportional hazard risk models. Competing other-than-stroke death was censored at the date of death. All continuous ECG exposure variables were expressed as their z score to standardise comparisons. The proportional-hazards assumption was verified using stcox PH-assumptions suite of tests implemented in STATA (StataCorp), and exceptions were reported. To adjust for confounders, we constructed five models with incremental adjustment. Model 1 was adjusted for demographic characteristics (age, sex and race-study centre group).

Model 2, in addition to model 1 covariates, was adjusted for prevalent at baseline CVD and risk factors (BMI, WHR, total cholesterol, HDL, triglyceride level, use of lipid-lowering medications, current smoking, consumption of alcohol, level of physical activity at leisure time, diabetes, hypertension, levels of systolic and diastolic blood pressure, use of blood pressure-lowering drugs, eGFRCKD-EPI and the presence of carotid artery plaque).

Model 3 further added characteristics of an atrial substrate (abnormal P axis (less than 0 or above 75°),6 abnormal PR interval (less than 120 ms or above 200 ms),29 abnormal PTFV1 (≤ −4000 µV×ms)6), heart rate, use of antiarrhythmic drugs, anticoagulants and aspirin. In cases of P-wave absence, PR interval and P-wave indices were categorised as abnormal. Model 3 also added presence of PACs on 10 s 12-lead ECG at any visit, S or V median beat at any visit and presence of AF at baseline or at any time during follow-up (assuming incident AF has been present since baseline).41

Model 4 adjusted for model 3 covariates plus characteristics of an electrophysiological ventricular substrate (QRS duration, QTc interval, presence of BBB/IVCD, ECG-LVH, categorical GEH risk score and presence of PVCs on 10 s 12-lead ECG at any visit). Categorical GEH risk score was not included in the models with continuous GEH variables serving as predictors.

Time-updated model 5 for TS and ES outcomes included all model 4 covariates, as well as ECG variables that were updated at the date of ECG recording in visits 1–5, as time-updated exposure (QRS duration, QTc interval, presence of BBB/IVCD, ECG-LVH and GEH variables), and time-updated covariates (abnormal P-axis, abnormal PTFV1, abnormal PR interval, heart rate, presence of PACs and PVCs on a single 10 s 12-lead ECG and a type of median beat).

Time-updated model 5 for ICH outcome included age, sex, race-study centre group, baseline prevalent CVD and use of antiarrhythmic drugs, anticoagulants and aspirin, time-updated exposure (QRS duration, QTc interval, presence of BBB/IVCD, ECG-LVH and GEH variables one-by-one) and time-updated covariates (abnormal P-axis, PTFV1, PR interval, heart rate, presence of PACs/PVCs on a 12-lead ECG and a type of median beat).

Associations of continuous ECG variables with stroke were also studied using adjusted (model 1) Cox regression models incorporating cubic splines with four knots.

Competing risks of stroke (including fatal stroke) and death from other causes

As the risk of stroke (including fatal stroke) competes with the risk of death from other causes, we employed cause-specific hazards functions, estimated using Cox proportional hazards models. We compared the strength of association of the exposure variables between the two competing outcomes by testing the null hypothesis that the coefficients for a given variable (b and b) were the same across the two competing outcomes by calculating Z-scores:

where s.e is a standard error. We then determined statistical significance of Z-scores.

Subgroups analysis

We investigated whether sex and age modify the association of electrophysiological ventricular substrate with incident stroke by adding interaction terms in the fully adjusted Cox model 5. Separate models were constructed for each outcome, including the interaction terms of ECG variables with (1) sex and (2) age as a continuous variable.

Sensitivity analyses

To assess the robustness of the study findings, we conducted sensitivity analysis after excluding participants with different types of stroke.

To determine the additive predictive value in comparison with the CHA2DS2-VASc risk score, we studied an incident AF cohort in our study. From our main study population (n=14 479), we excluded participants with prevalent AF (n=26), without incident AF during follow-up (n=11 178), and missing incident AF status in 2017 (n=264). The remaining 3011 participants with incident AF were included. The CHA2DS2-VASc score was calculated at the date of incident AF diagnosis. The exposure ECG variables were taken as measured prior (as close as possible) to incident AF. Time at risk was calculated from the date of AF ascertainment until the date of ischaemic stroke, other-than-stroke death or lost to follow-up, whichever occurred first. To compare the predictive value of GEH for ischaemic stroke, we compared the performance of CHA2DS2-VASc score alone and after addition of GEH variables. We assessed model performance by C-statistic, relative integrated discrimination improvement (IDI) and categorical net reclassification improvement (NRI) for categories of <1%, 1%–2% and >2% 1-year risk of stroke.

Statistical analyses were performed using STATA MP V.16.1 (StataCorp). A p<0.05 was considered statistically significant. We used the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) cross-sectional checklist when writing our report.42

Patient and public involvement

Patients or the public were not involved in the design, conduct or reporting of this study.

Results

More than half of the participants had 0–1 abnormal GEH measures, and only 6% had 4–5 abnormal GEH metrics (online supplemental table 1). PVCs were detected in 280 (1.93%) participants at baseline and 1202 (8.30%) participants at any visit. TD-IBBB was observed in at least one ECG in 122 (0.84%) participants. There was a gradual increase in the presence of carotid plaque and a gradual decrease in the level of HDL, consistent with a growth in the number of abnormal GEH metrics. As expected, abnormal P wave indices, PACs, PVCs and ventricular conduction abnormalities were more likely to be observed in participants with abnormal GEH.

Incident stroke

Over a median follow-up of 24.5 years, there were 899 TS (incidence 2.87; 95% CI 2.69 to 3.07 per 1000 person-years), 400 ES (incidence 1.26; 95% CI 1.14 to 1.39 per 1000 person-years) and 120 ICH-only strokes (incidence 0.38; 95% CI 0.32 to 0.45 per 1000 person-years). Both types of ischaemic stroke were diagnosed in 62 participants, and another 16 participants endured both ICH and either TS or ES. Baseline GEH was worse in participants who developed any type of stroke during follow-up (table 1).

Table 1

GEH in participants with different types of stroke

Characteristics	No stroke (n=13 124)	Only TS (n=822)	Only ES (n=335)	Only ICH (n=120)	TS and ES (n=62)	ICH and TS/ES (n=16)	P value
Heart rate (SD), bpm	66.1 (10.1)	66.9 (10.9)	66.4 (10.9)	65.2 (10.3)	67.8 (10.6)	68.0 (5.8)	0.193
QRS duration (SD), ms	92.2 (12.4)	93.8 (13.8)	93.0 (11.1)	91.0 (11.3)	91.1 (11.5)	91.6 (12.7)	0.007
Bazett QTc (SD), ms	416.0 (19.1)	418.8 (20.5)	418.5 (19.1)	415.0 (17.0)	418.4 (16.6)	415.9 (20.8)	0.0002
ECG-LVH, n (%)	677 (5.2)	79 (9.7)	34 (10.2)	10 (8.3)	3 (4.8)	3 (18.8)	<0.0001
PVC any visit, n (%)	1052 (8.0)	87 (10.6)	53 (15.8)	5 (4.2)	4 (6.5)	1 (6.3)	<0.0001
BBB/IVCD, n (%)	545 (4.2)	42 (5.1)	15 (4.5)	3 (2.5)	2 (3.2)	1 (6.3)	0.700
TD-IBBB any visit, n (%)	109 (0.83)	7 (0.85)	2 (0.60)	3 (2.50)	1 (1.61)	0 (0)	0.442
Atrial fibrillation any visit, n (%)	2554 (19.5)	183 (22.3)	233 (70.0)	24 (20.0)	38 (61.3)	5 (31.3)	<0.0001
PAC any visit, n (%)	1083 (8.3)	82 (10.0)	43 (12.8)	11 (9.2)	5 (8.1)	1 (6.3)	0.040
Median beat S or V at any visit, n (%)	352 (2.7)	14 (1.7)	47 (14.0)	2 (1.2)	5 (8.1)	1 (5.3)	<0.0001
Abnormal PR interval, n (%)	1163 (8.9)	82 (10.0)	40 (11.9)	7 (5.8)	9 (14.5)	1 (6.3)	0.121
Abnormal frontal P axis, n (%)	1069 (8.2)	76 (9.3)	27 (8.1)	7 (5.8)	6 (9.7)	3 (18.8)	0.455
Abnormal PTF in V1, n (%)	1242 (9.5)	126 (15.3)	47 (14.0)	17 (14.2)	9 (14.5)	5 (31.3)	<0.0001
Peak QRS-T angle (circular 95% CI), °	41.6 (41.1 to 42.0)	46.5 (44.3 to 48.6)	49.0 (45.3 to 52.7)	45.6 (40.4 to 50.8)	47.7 (38.8 to 56.6)	58.7 (32.6 to 84.7)	<0.0001
Area QRS-T angle (circular 95% CI), °	60.1 (59.6 to 60.5)	63.8 (61.7 to 65.9)	65.3 (62.0 to 68.6)	60.0 (55.1 to 64.8)	65.0 (57.9 to 72.1)	71.3 (51.0 to 91.5)	0.463
Peak SVG elevation (circular SD), °	63.2 (62.9–63.4)	64.9 (63.9–66.0)	66.2 (64.5–67.9)	63.2 (60.6–65.8)	66.5 (62.8–70.2)	68.4 (58.5–78.2)	0.003
Area SVG elevation (circular SD), °	67.2 (66.9–67.5)	69.2 (68.0–70.4)	70.0 (68.0–72.0)	67.6 (64.8–70.5)	69.3 (64.7–74.0)	73.0 (62.7–83.3)	0.035
Peak SVG azimuth (circular SD),°	2.5 (2.1–2.8)	2.4 (0.9–3.9)	4.1 (1.5–6.7)	4.9 (1.3–8.6)	4.7 (-0.5 to 9.9)	5.4 (-8.5 to 19.3)	0.148
Area SVG azimuth (circular SD),°	24.5 (24.1–24.9)	24.6 (22.9–26.3)	23.4 (20.8–26.0)	26.9 (23.0–30.8)	27.2 (21.6–32.8)	26.4 (13.8–39.1)	0.862
SAIQRST, mV×ms	142.2 (49.9)	149.5 (55.8)	151.1 (55.5)	146.1 (51.4)	143.0 (47.9)	162.0 (62.2)	<0.0001
Peak SVG magnitude (SD), mV	1.60 (0.44)	1.66 (0.46)	1.64 (0.49)	1.70 (0.49)	1.66 (0.41)	1.61 (0.40)	0.0002
SVG magnitude, mV	1.70 (0.48)	1.76 (0.53)	1.74 (0.52)	1.83 (0.57)	1.72 (0.50)	1.79 (0.45)	0.003

ES, embolic stroke; GEH, global electrical heterogeneity; IVCD, interventricular conduction delay; LVH, left ventricular hypertrophy; PAC, premature atrial complexe; PTF, P-terminal force; PVC, premature ventricular contraction; SAIQRST, sum absolute QRST integral; SVG, spatial ventricular gradient; TD-IBBB, tachycardia-dependent intermittent bundle branch block; TS, thrombotic stroke.

Electrophysiological ventricular substrate and cardio-ES

In minimally adjusted model 1, nearly all measures of the electrophysiological ventricular substrate were associated with incident ES (table 2). Model 2 showed that CVD and cardiovascular risk factors explained a significant portion of it (figure 2), but an association of SAIQRST and PVCs with ES remained significant.

Table 2

Association of GEH with incident stroke in cause-specific Cox models

		Model 1		Model 2		Model 3		Model 4		Model 5
	Predictor, per 1 SD	HR (95% CI)	P value	HR (95% CI)	P value	HR (95% CI)	P value	HR (95% CI)	P value	HR (95% CI)	P value
Embolic stroke (n=400)	Peak QRS-T angle	1.28 (1.17 to 1.39)*	<0.0001	1.18 (1.08 to 1.29)*	<0.0001	1.12 (1.02 to 1.23)	0.020	1.11 (1.01 to 1.23)	0.034	1.12 (1.02 to 1.23)*	0.016
	Area QRS-T angle	1.30 (1.18 to 1.43)*	<0.0001	1.23 (1.11 to 1.35)*	<0.0001	1.15 (1.04 to 1.27)*	0.007	1.15 (1.03 to 1.28)*	0.012	1.14 (1.03 to 1.25)*	0.011
	Peak SVG elevation	1.14 (1.03 to 1.26)*	0.011	1.07 (0.97 to 1.19)	0.187	1.06 (0.95 to 1.17)	0.308	1.05 (0.94 to 1.18)	0.353	1.04 (0.94 to 1.16)	0.450
	Area SVG elevation	1.11 (1.01 to 1.21)*	0.037	1.04 (0.95 to 1.15)*	0.382	1.03 (0.93 to 1.13)	0.599	1.02 (0.92 to 1.13)	0.676	1.02 (0.92 to 1.13)	0.702
	Peak SVG azimuth	1.13 (1.04 to 1.24)	0.006	1.09 (0.99 to 1.19)	0.079	1.04 (0.95 to 1.14)	0.407	1.03 (0.94 to 1.14)	0.532	1.03 (0.94 to 1.12)	0.519
	Area SVG azimuth	1.07 (0.97 to 1.19)*	0.172	1.04 (0.94 to 1.15)	0.446	1.00 (0.91 to 1.11)	0.949	0.98 (0.88 to 1.08)	0.656	1.03 (0.94 to 1.12)	0.559
	Peak SVG magnitude	1.07 (0.96 to 1.18)	0.220	1.05 (0.95 to 1.17)	0.320	1.10 (0.99 to 1.22)	0.078	1.09 (0.98 to 1.21)	0.117	1.13 (1.02 to 1.25)	0.018
	Area SVG magnitude	1.03 (0.93 to 1.14)	0.559	1.05 (0.94 to 1.17)	0.398	1.08 (0.97 to 1.21)	0.146	1.07 (0.96 to 1.20)	0.207	1.19 (1.08 to 1.32)	0.001
	SAIQRST	1.17 (1.07 to 1.28)	0.001	1.17 (1.07 to 1.28)	<0.0001	1.15 (1.05 to 1.27)	0.002	1.20 (1.07 to 1.34)	0.002	1.16 (1.06 to 1.27)	0.001
	Bazett’s QTc	1.13 (1.05 to 1.23)*	0.002	1.06 (0.97 to 1.16)*	0.223	1.00 (0.90 to 1.10)	0.924	0.99 (0.89 to 1.10)*	0.850	0.99 (0.90 to 1.09)	0.865
	QRS duration	1.05 (0.95 to 1.16)	0.333	1.01 (0.91 to 1.12)	0.816	1.00 (0.90 to 1.11)	0.988	0.98 (0.86 to 1.13)	0.811	0.94 (0.83 to 1.08)	0.393
	PVC	2.15 (1.28 to 3.60)	0.004	2.17 (1.29 to 3.64)	0.003	1.72 (1.02 to 2.91)	0.043	1.72 (1.02 to 2.92)	0.044	1.27 (0.85 to 1.95)	0.237
	TD-IBBB	0.91 (0.29 to 2.83)	0.870	0.84 (0.27 to 2.63)	0.771	0.73 (0.23 to 2.29)	0.592	0.73 (0.23 to 2.30)	0.596	1.51 (0.37 to 6.12)	0.563
	BBB/IVCD	0.98 (0.61 to 1.58)	0.948	0.95 (0.59 to 1.53)	0.835	0.82 (0.51 to 1.32)	0.412	0.76 (0.43 to 1.33)	0.340	0.83 (0.54 to 1.29)	0.412
	ECG-LVH	1.85 (1.31 to 2.60)*	<0.0001	1.49 (1.06 to 2.12)*	0.024	1.32 (0.93 to 1.88)	0.126	1.38 (0.91 to 2.08)	0.127	1.28 (0.92 to 1.78)	0.146
Thrombotic stroke (n=899)	Peak QRS-T angle	1.16 (1.10 to 1.24)*	<0.0001	1.04 (0.98 to 1.11)*	0.197	1.04 (0.97 to 1.11)*	0.265	1.01 (0.94 to 1.08)	0.810	1.06 (0.99 to 1.13)*	0.103
	Area QRS-T angle	1.17 (1.10 to 1.25)*	<0.0001	1.08 (1.01 to 1.16)*	0.021	1.08 (1.01 to 1.15)*	0.035	1.04 (0.97 to 1.12)	0.237	1.01 (0.94 to 1.09)*	0.718
	Peak SVG elevation	1.01 (0.94 to 1.08)*	0.817	0.96 (0.90 to 1.03)	0.278	0.98 (0.91 to 1.05)	0.498	0.95 (0.88 to 1.02)	0.163	0.98 (0.91 to 1.05)	0.585
	Area SVG elevation	1.02 (0.96 to 1.09)*	0.504	0.98 (0.91 to 1.05)	0.498	0.99 (0.93 to 1.06)	0.762	0.97 (0.91 to 1.04)	0.386	0.98 (0.92 to 1.05)	0.658
	Peak SVG azimuth	1.02 (0.96 to 1.09)*	0.510	0.96 (0.90 to 1.02)*	0.211	0.95 (0.89 to 1.02)	0.175	0.93 (0.86 to 0.99)	0.034	0.96 (0.90 to 1.02)*	0.175
	Area SVG azimuth	1.09 (1.02 to 1.17)*	0.012	1.04 (0.97 to 1.11)	0.227	1.03 (0.97 to 1.11)	0.338	1.02 (0.95 to 1.09)	0.636	0.98 (0.92 to 1.04)	0.511
	Peak SVG magnitude	1.04 (0.97 to 1.11)	0.253	1.05 (0.98 to 1.12)	0.186	1.05 (0.98 to 1.13)	0.144	1.05 (0.98 to 1.12)	0.200	1.11 (1.04 to 1.19)	0.002
	Area SVG magnitude	1.03 (0.96 to 1.10)	0.446	1.05 (0.98 to 1.12)	0.203	1.05 (0.98 to 1.13)	0.174	1.04 (0.97 to 1.12)	0.250	1.11 (1.03 to 1.18)	0.004
	SAIQRST	1.09 (1.02 to 1.16)	0.010	1.07 (1.01 to 1.14)	0.028	1.09 (1.02 to 1.16)	0.011	1.04 (0.97 to 1.12)	0.267	1.08 (1.01 to 1.15)	0.022
	Bazett’s QTc	1.15 (1.10 to 1.21)*	<0.0001	1.08 (1.02 to 1.14)*	0.007	1.08 (1.02 to 1.15)*	0.010	1.05 (0.99 to 1.13)	0.115	1.08 (1.01 to 1.15)	0.025
	QRS duration	1.09 (1.02 to 1.16)	0.010	1.07 (1.001 to 1.13)	0.046	1.09 (1.02 to 1.16)	0.012	1.05 (0.96 to 1.14)	0.295	0.98 (0.89 to 1.08)	0.686
	PVC	1.61 (1.09 to 2.38)	0.016	1.53 (1.03 to 2.26)	0.034	1.48 (1.00 to 2.20)	0.050	1.47 (0.99 to 2.18)	0.058	0.84 (0.58 to 1.22)	0.362
	TD-IBBB	1.02 (0.51 to 2.05)	0.951	0.95 (0.47 to 1.91)	0.887	0.96 (0.48 to 1.92)	0.902	0.97 (0.48 to 1.95)	0.930	0.55 (0.14 to 2.22)	0.399
	BBB/IVCD	1.13 (0.84 to 1.53)	0.415	1.11 (0.82 to 1.50)	0.493	1.15 (0.85 to 1.56)	0.366	0.89 (0.62 to 1.29)	0.551	0.86 (0.62 to 1.17)	0.334
	ECG-LVH	1.61 (1.28 to 2.02)*	<0.0001	1.33 (1.05 to 1.68)*	0.017	1.34 (1.06 to 1.70)	0.014	1.20 (0.91 to 1.57)	0.200	1.15 (0.92 to 1.45)	0.225
Haemorrhagic stroke (n=120)	Peak QRS-T angle	1.13 (0.95 to 1.34)	0.159	1.10 (0.92 to 1.32)	0.308	1.13 (0.95 to 1.36)	0.176	1.13 (0.93 to 1.37)	0.216	1.06 (0.97 to 1.30)	0.553
	Area QRS-T angle	1.05 (0.87 to 1.27)	0.608	1.00 (0.82 to 1.22)	0.	1.04 (0.86 to 1.27)	0.675	1.03 (0.84 to 1.28)	0.758	0.99 (0.80 to 1.23)	0.932
	Peak SVG elevation	0.94 (0.78 to 1.14)	0.538	1.00 (0.79 to 1.18)	0.735	0.97 (0.79 to 1.19)	0.773	0.96 (0.78 to 1.19)	0.710	0.89 (0.73 to 1.10)	0.286
	Area SVG elevation	0.99 (0.82 to 1.19)	0.895	1.00 (0.83 to 1.21)	0.983	1.01 (0.83 to 1.22)	0.963	1.00 (0.82 to 1.23)	0.990	0.96 (0.78 to 1.18)	0.694
	Peak SVG azimuth	1.09 (0.91 to 1.29)	0.349	1.05 (0.88 to 1.26)	0.586	1.06 (0.89 to 1.27)	0.507	1.05 (0.87 to 1.27)	0.605	1.06 (0.87 to 1.29)	0.593
	Area SVG azimuth	1.17 (0.97 to 1.42)	0.090	1.14 (0.94 to 1.37)	0.190	1.15 (0.95 to 1.40)	0.151	1.14 (0.93 to 1.41)	0.214	1.19 (0.94 to 1.50)	0.149
	Peak SVG magnitude	1.20 (1.005 to 1.44)	0.044	1.16 (0.97 to 1.39)	0.111	1.13 (0.93 to 1.35)	0.213	1.11 (0.92 to 1.34)	0.266	1.18 (0.98 to 1.41)	0.078
	Area SVG magnitude	1.25 (1.05 to 1.50)	0.014	1.18 (0.98 to 1.43)	0.077	1.15 (0.95 to 1.29)	0.154	1.14 (0.94 to 1.38)	0.182	1.23 (1.03 to 1.47)	0.020
	SAIQRST	1.11 (0.93 to 1.33)	0.241	1.04 (0.86 to 1.27)	0.666	1.03 (0.84 to 1.27)	0.775	1.03 (0.82 to 1.31)	0.791	1.11 (0.88 to 1.39)	0.377
	Bazett’s QTc	0.95 (0.77 to 1.16)	0.586	0.92 (0.75 to 1.14)	0.458	0.96 (0.78 to 1.19)	0.726	0.96 (0.77 to 1.20)	0.707	0.88 (0.69 to 1.13)	0.327
	QRS duration	0.92 (0.75 to 1.14)	0.460	0.94 (0.77 to 1.16)	0.576	0.95 (0.76 to 1.18)	0.634	0.90 (0.69 to 1.18)	0.449	0.85 (0.62 to 1.17)	0.325
	PVC	1.41 (0.45 to 4.44)	0.556	1.32 (0.42 to 4.16)	0.639	1.47 (0.46 to 4.69)	0.514	1.44 (0.45 to 4.63)	0.543	1.36 (0.43 to 4.34)	0.605
	TD-IBBB	2.94 (0.93 to 9.26)	0.065	3.16 (1.0001 to 9.98)	0.050	3.27 (1.03 to 10.39)	0.188	3.28 (1.03 to 10.46)	0.045	n/a	n/a
	BBB/IVCD	0.59 (0.19 to 1.86)	0.367	0.62 (0.20 to 1.97)	0.422	0.67 (0.21 to 2.13)	0.498	0.60 (0.18 to 2.38)	0.526	0.66 (0.19 to 2.38)	0.529
	ECG-LVH	1.58 (0.81 to 3.05)	0.176	1.50 (0.77 to 2.95)	0.234	1.54 (0.78 to 3.02)	0.212	1.61 (0.74 to 3.49)	0.233	1.43 (0.67 to 3.03)	0.357

Bold values are statistically significant

*Proportional-hazards assumption not met.

BBB, bundle branch block; GEH, global electrical heterogeneity; IVCD, interventricular conduction delay; LVH, left ventricular hypertroph; n/a, not available; PVC, premature ventricular contraction; SAIQRST, sum absolute QRST integral; SVG, spatial ventricular gradient; TD-IBBB, tachycardia-dependent intermittent BBB.

Figure 2

Adjusted Cox proportional HR with 95% CI for the association of peak and area QRS-T angle, SAIQRST and a PVC on a 10 s ECG with ES and TS. Black lines correspond to 95% CI bounds. Model 1 (green diamond) was adjusted for age, sex and race study centre. Model 2 (orange triangle) was in addition adjusted for prevalent CVD and risk factors (BMI, WHR, lipids, use of lipid-lowering medications, smoking, alcohol use, physical activity, diabetes, hypertension, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, use of antihypertensive drugs, eGFRCKD-EPI, carotid artery plaque). Model 3 (blue oval) added adjustment for atrial substrate (abnormal P axis, PR interval, PTFV1), heart rate, antiarrhythmic drugs, anticoagulants, aspirin, PACs on 12-lead ECG at any visit, S or V median beat at any visit and AF. Model 4 (red rectangle) further added electrophysiological ventricular substrate (QRS duration, QTc interval, BBB/IVCD, ECG-LVH and PVCs on 12-lead ECG at any visit). Time-updated model 5 (cyan X) added ECG variables that were updated at the date of ECG recording in visits 1–5, as time-updated exposure (QRS duration, QTc interval, presence of BBB/IVCD, ECG-LVH and GEH) and time-updated covariates (abnormal P-axis, PTFV1, PR interval, heart rate, PACs or PVCs on a 12-lead ECG and a type of median beat). AF, atrial fibrillation; BBB, bundle branch block; BMI, body mass index; eGFR, estimated glomerular filtration rate; ES, embolic stroke; GEH, global electrical heterogeneity; IVCD, interventricular conduction delay; LVH, left ventricular hypertrophy; PACs, premature atrial complexes; PTFV1, P-terminal force in lead V1; PVC, premature ventricular contraction; SAIQRST, sum absolute QRST integral; TS, thrombotic stroke; WHR, waist-to-hip ratio.

The addition of the atrial substrate metrics in model 3 resulted in further attenuation of the association of QRS-T angle and PVCs with ES. Model 4 confirmed that spatial QRS-T angle, SAIQRST and PVCs represent specific features of the electrophysiological ventricular substrate independently associated with ES. Notably, the association of QRS-T angle and SAIQRST with ES was ‘dose-dependent,’ as demonstrated by the gradually increasing risk of ES across the distribution of QRS-T angle and SAIQRST (figure 3). In time-updated model 5, SVG magnitude emerged as significant independent transient exposure associated with incident ES.

Figure 3

Adjusted (model 1) risk of cardioembolic (A, B) and thrombotic (C, D) stroke associated with area QRS-T angle (A, C) and SAIQRST (B, D). Restricted cubic spline with 95% CI shows a change in the HR (y-axis) in response to QRS-T angle and SAIQRST change (x-axis). 50th percentile of QRS-T angle and SAIQRST is selected as a reference. Knots of area QRS-T angle are at 21°–48° to 69°–114°. Knots of SAIQRST are at 83–119 to 151–230 mV×ms. SAIQRST, sum absolute QRST integral.

Sensitivity analysis in participants with pure ES (online supplemental table 2) reported consistent results.

Electrophysiological ventricular substrate and TS

In minimally adjusted model 1, nearly all traditional and novel measures of the ventricular substrate associated with TS, although the strength of association was weaker for thrombotic than cardio-ES (table 2). Similar to ES, the risk of TS increased across the distribution of the QRS-T angle and SAIQRST (figure 3). Adjustment for CVD and cardiovascular risk factors in model 2 substantially attenuated the association for all ECG metrics (figure 2).

However, in contrast to ES, further adjustment for atrial substrate in model 3 did not change the strength of associations, suggesting that an association of a ventricular substrate with TS was independent of atrial substrate. Again, in contrast to the ES, model 4 showed that there was no independent association of the electrophysiological ventricular substrate with incident TS, as previously observed in models 1–3 associations attenuated and were not statistically significant.

Interestingly, time-updated model 5 revealed a strengthened association of SAIQRST and SVG magnitude with TS, suggesting the importance of time-dependent transient electrophysiological ventricular substrate (figures 2 and 4).

Electrophysiological ventricular substrate and haemorrhagic stroke

In contrast to ischaemic stroke, only time-updated SVG magnitude (figure 4) and detected at any visit TD-IBBB (model 4, HR 3.28, 95% CI 1.03 to 10.46; p=0.045). were associated with ICH.

Figure 4

Time-updated adjusted risk of (A) ES, (B) TS and (C) ICH associated with SVG magnitude. Time-updated Cox regression models were adjusted for age, sex, race and study centre, time-updated heart rate, and the type of median beat. Restricted cubic spline with 95% CI shows a change in the HR (y-axis) in response to SVG magnitude change (x-axis). The 50th percentile of SVG magnitude is selected as a reference. Knots of SVG magnitude are at 0.92–1.43 to 1.79–2.51 mV. (D). Adjusted Cox proportional HR with 95% CI for the association of SVG magnitude with ES (green diamond), TS (red triangle) and ICH (blue circle) in time-updated model 5. ES, embolic stroke; ICH, intracerebral haemorrhage; SVG, spatial ventricular gradient; TS, thrombotic stroke.

Sensitivity analysis with pure TS (online supplemental table 2) demonstrated identical results, supporting the robustness of the study findings.

Competing other-then-stroke death

There were 4417 deaths from other-than-stroke causes (incidence 14.78; 95% CI 14.35 to 15.22) per 1000 person-years of follow-up. Most ECG variables had similar associations with both competing outcomes, with few notable exceptions.

Peak SVG magnitude demonstrated statistically significant discordant association with competing outcomes: larger SVG magnitude was associated with a higher risk of all types of incident stroke but lower risk of stroke-free death (online supplemental table 3). Similarly, TD-IBBB was associated with a greater risk of ICH but not stroke-free death. Consistently, PVC’s presence was stronger associated with ischaemic stroke than with competing stroke-free death.

Subgroups analysis

We observed a few statistically significant interactions (online supplemental table 4). The presence of PVCs was associated with a twofold higher risk of ES in women compared with men (relative HR (RHR) 2.2; 95% CI 1.0 to 5.0; p=0.051). Peak SVG elevation displayed discordant association with TS in men and women. More superiorly directed SVG vector was associated with a lesser risk of TS in women but higher risk of TS in men.

ECG-LVH was associated with a fivefold higher ICH risk in men than women (RHR 5.6; 95% CI 1.1 to 28.5; p=0.039). The association of age with incident ICH was modified by QRS-T angle (online supplemental figure 3) and SVG azimuth (online supplemental figure 4). The risk of ICH was rising steeper with age if the baseline QRS-T angle was smaller, and SVG azimuth was directed more anteriorly.

Reclassification improvement in incident AF patients

Out of 3011 ARIC participants with incident AF, there were 204 ischaemic strokes (either ES or TS) within the first year after AF diagnosis. The addition of all GEH variables to CHA2DS2-VASc score improved the C-statistic (95% CI) from 0.560 (0.515 to 0.604) to 0.605 (0.561 to 0.650); p=0.005. Reclassification was also improved: relative IDI was 1.31 (95% CI 0.81 to 1.79); p<0.0001. Categorical NRI was 0.282 (95% CI 0.182 to 0.381); p<0.0001. Out of participants with ischaemic stroke, 62% were appropriately reclassified to higher risk categories. Out of stroke-free participants within 1 year, 53% were appropriately reclassified to lower-risk categories.

Discussion

This large, prospective, community-dwelling cohort study revealed several novel findings. First, we uncovered a novel electrophysiological ventricular substrate of ES, likely reflecting the development of cardiac memory in response to PVCs. Our results suggest that the search for the sources of ES should include an assessment of the PVC burden and open an avenue for randomised clinical trials of the ablation of idiopathic PVCs as a possible prevention strategy for a cardio-ES of uncertain source.

Second, we observed a time-dependent association of a transient electrophysiological ventricular substrate likely reflecting cardiac memory in patients with TS, suggesting that PVCs can also trigger a thromboembolic stroke from a brain artery. Future studies are needed to determine whether monitoring of cardiac memory and PVC burden in patients at risk for TS can be used to guide short-term dual antiplatelet therapy.

Third, we observed important differences between men and women, warranting further investigations. The presence of PVCs was associated with a twofold higher risk of ES in women than men, whereas ECG-LVH was associated with a fivefold higher ICH risk in men than women.

Finally, we found an association of electrophysiological ventricular substrate with ICH, possibly reflecting the development of cardiac memory in response to TD-IBBB and suggesting an implication of amyloidosis. After validation of these findings in another study, TD-IBBB may be used as a marker of ICH risk, increasing clinical suspicion of cardiac amyloidosis.

Notably, our study suggested that the wide spatial QRS-T angle, and the large SAIQRST and SVG magnitude are non-specific characteristics of the transient substrate of cardiac memory, which develops in response to PVCs and TD-IBBB. Further ECG monitoring studies are needed to validate an association of PVCs and TD-IBBB burden with the amount of cardiac memory.

The electrophysiological ventricular substrate of ischaemic stroke

AF is a well-recognised major risk factor and the central focus for cardio-ES prevention.43 The pathophysiological mechanisms of stroke in AF have been studied for decades.44 However, a frequently missing temporal link between AF episodes and stroke events remains incompletely understood.45 46 The atrial myopathy hypothesis47 was developed to explain the temporal dissociation between AF and stroke. The hypothesis suggests that the fibrotic atrial substrate, which interacts with the atrial electrical dysfunction,48 is the principal mediator of thromboembolism. Nevertheless, the risk of stroke is increased in a graded manner in patients with paroxysmal, persistent and permanent AF.49 50 Moreover, a greater AF burden is associated with a higher risk of stroke,51 52 highlighting the importance of a haemodynamic disturbance triggering thromboembolic events. Therefore, the current strategy for determining the aetiology of cardio-ES is to search for underlying AF.53

Our study uncovered the presence of an electrophysiological ventricular substrate associated with ES (figure 5), which remained associated with ES even after rigorous adjustment for CVD and cardiovascular risk factors, AF and atrial substrate,54 55 and known ventricular abnormalities (BBB, LVH). PVC burden, manifested by the cardiac memory, characterises the electrophysiological ventricular substrate of ES. Several previous studies reported an association of PVCs with ischaemic stroke.9–11 Previous studies9–11 speculated that PVCs merely reflect the presence and burden of CVD. Nevertheless, our study demonstrated that the association of PVCs with ES is independent of CVD and cardiovascular risk factors (model 2, figure 2), as well as traditional CVD-related electrophysiological ventricular substrate (ECG-LVH and BBB; model 4, figure 2). Moreover, we showed that AF and atrial substrate mediate the association of PVCs with ES (model 3, figure 2).

Figure 5

Mechanisms of ischaemic (A) and haemorrhagic (B) stroke. Red colour highlights the mechanisms suggested by this study. CHD, coronary heart disease; CVD, cardiovascular disease; HF, heart failure; LVH, left ventricular hypertrophy; PACs, premature atrial complexes; PAD, peripheral artery disease; PVCs, premature ventricular contractions; TD-IBBB, tachycardia-dependent intermittent bundle branch block.

It is well known that PVCs can induce cardiac memory, which is manifested by a wide QRS-T angle56 57 and a large QRST integral.58 In this study, the response of the specific electrophysiological ventricular substrate measures (PVCs, spatial QRS-T angle and SAIQRST) on stepwise adjustment (models 1–4, figure 2) was similar, supporting the notion that spatial QRS-T angle and SAIQRST reflect cardiac memory. We also observed a gradual, ‘dose-dependent’ association of QRS-T angle and SAIQRST with the hazard of cardio-ES (figure 3A).

Evidently, several mechanisms behind abnormal QRS-T angle59 and SAIQRST60 explain an attenuation of the association after adjustment for CVD and cardiovascular risk factors. Importantly, spatial QRS-T angle and SAIQRST remained associated with ES after full adjustment in time-updated model 5. This raises the possibility that cardiac memory reflects an increasing burden of PVCs before the stroke event. Moreover, we observed a strong, independent, ‘dose-dependent’ association of time-updated SVG magnitude with ES. In competing risk analysis, SVG magnitude was stronger associated with ES than competing death from other causes. SVG magnitude reflects cardiac memory16 as a transient substrate or a trigger.19 As expected, the SVG direction did not associate with incident stroke because idiopathic PVCs can originate from different locations.59 Therefore, the results of our study suggest that the high burden of PVCs can trigger cardioembolic events. Future studies are needed to prove an association of PVC burden with ES.

PVC burden can be a ‘missing’ temporal link connecting haemodynamic disturbance due to paroxysmal arrhythmia with acute stroke events in predisposed patients (figure 5A). The ablation of idiopathic PVCs could be an effective and safe60 prophylactic measure to reduce the risk of acute stroke. Our findings open an avenue for randomised clinical trials of ES prevention using the ablation of idiopathic PVCs, especially for the secondary prevention of an ES of uncertain source.

Consistent with the notion that a subset of TSs includes ES originating from a brain artery, we observed a weak association of PVCs, spatial QRS-T angle, SAIQRST and time-updated SVG magnitude with TS. As expected and contrary to ES, the association of a ventricular substrate with TS was independent of AF and atrial substrate. Still, the association was mediated primarily by CVD and cardiovascular risk factors, including BBB and LVH.

Similar to ES, a dose-dependent association of spatial QRS-T angle, SAIQRST and time-updated SVG magnitude with the risk of TS suggested a similar underlying mechanism—cardiac memory, reflecting PVC burden. Notably, in competing risk analysis, PVCs and SVG magnitude were stronger associated with TS than competing non-stroke death. However, unlike in ES, an ES from a brain artery seems to be more likely triggered by CVD-related PVCs. Thus, monitoring of SVG magnitude (ie, monitoring of cardiac memory due to PVC burden) in patients at risk of TS can potentially be used to guide short-term dual antiplatelet therapy or timing of carotid endarterectomy, which should be investigated further (figure 5A).

The electrophysiological ventricular substrate in haemorrhagic stroke

In this study, we observed that transient increases in SVG magnitude and TD-IBBB was associated with ICH. Cardiac memory developed in response to TD-IBBB has been previously demonstrated.61 TD-IBBB raises suspicion of amyloidosis (figure 5B).

Cerebral microbleeds are the strongest risk factors of haemorrhagic stroke.62 Cerebral amyloid angiopathy is the second most common cause of haemorrhagic stroke, following hypertension (hypertensive arteriopathy).63 A previous study demonstrated an association of ECG-LVH with ICH.34 We adjusted our analyses by ECG-LVH, history of hypertension, antihypertensive treatment and levels of systolic and diastolic blood pressure to account for hypertensive arteriopathy as the leading cause of ICH.

The amyloid burden is independently associated with cerebral microbleeds.64 Amyloidosis is a systemic disease.65 Cardiac amyloidosis is significantly underdiagnosed, partly because of a lack of suspicion and a widespread belief that it is rare.66 Nevertheless, wild-type transthyretin amyloidosis (ATTRwt) cardiac amyloidosis is common in older adults67 and patients with HF with preserved ejection fraction.68 Recently, novel diagnostic approaches69 and therapies70 emerged, which can improve clinical outcomes, facilitating a search for early diagnostic clues.

Previously described ECG manifestations of cardiac amyloidosis are highly variable71 and include ECG-LVH, low voltage and poor R wave progression.68 Notably, one consistent characteristic feature of all types of cardiac amyloid (light chain, mutant ATTR and ATTRwt) includes cardiac conduction abnormalities.72 In this study, individuals with TD-IBBB had a twofold higher risk of ICH, but the association was not statistically significant and should be validated in another independent study. The frequency and timing of TD-IBBB in cardiac amyloidosis should be studied further.

Up to 25% of patients with cerebral amyloid angiopathy are also diagnosed with AF,73 which poses a difficult dilemma and discussion about the risks and benefits of anticoagulation for stroke prevention.74 In our study, 16 patients experienced both haemorrhagic and ischaemic stroke. Our results hold a promise that in the future, propensities towards ischaemic and haemorrhagic stroke can be dissected based on the vectorcardiogram (VCG) features of the ventricular substrate.

Conclusions and clinical implications

While many cardiovascular risk factors of stroke are known, not all stroke mechanisms are recognised. A frequently missing temporal link between AF episodes and cardio-ES events remains incompletely understood. Previous studies reported an association of PVCs and LVH with incident stroke, but the role of cardiac electrophysiological ventricular substrate in different types of stroke was underappreciated.

The current large prospective cohort study uncovered the electrophysiological ventricular substrate of stroke, reflecting the development of cardiac memory. In patients with ischaemic stroke, cardiac memory was developed in response to PVCs. In patients with ICH, cardiac memory was developed in response to the transient TD-IBBB, suggesting an implication of amyloidosis.

Our results suggest that the search for the sources of cardio-ES should include an assessment of the PVC burden. Randomised clinical trials of the ablation of PVCs as a possible prevention strategy for a cardio-ES of the uncertain source should be considered. The monitoring of cardiac memory on ECG may be useful to guide short-term dual antiplatelet therapy for prevention of ischaemic stroke. TD-IBBB should be further studied as a marker of ICH risk, increasing clinical suspicion for cardiac amyloidosis.