Open AccessElectrocardiogram‐Based Predictors of Sudden Cardiac Death in Patients With Coronary Artery Disease
Author(s) -
Liew Reginald
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
clinical cardiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.263
H-Index - 72
eISSN - 1932-8737
pISSN - 0160-9289
DOI - 10.1002/clc.20924
Subject(s) - medicine , cardiology , coronary artery disease , sudden cardiac death , ejection fraction , signal averaged electrocardiogram , t wave alternans , electrocardiography , implantable cardioverter defibrillator , sudden death , heart failure
Current recommendations on which patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) should be offered an implantable cardioverter defibrillator for the primary prevention of sudden cardiac death (SCD) rely heavily on the presence of depressed left ventricular ejection fraction. Because the majority of SCD victims with CAD have preserved left ventricular function, additional cardiac investigations are likely to play an increasing role in the risk stratification of CAD patients. A number of studies have demonstrated that certain parameters on the traditional 12‐lead electrocardiogram (ECG) and other ECG‐based investigations (such as signal‐averaged ECG, heart rate turbulence, T‐wave alternans) can provide important information on the underlying cardiac substrate abnormality that may predispose to ventricular arrhythmias and SCD. This article reviews some of the evidence for these ECG‐based tests as predictors of SCD in patients with CAD and addresses their advantages and limitations. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. The author has no funding, financial relationships, or conflicts of interest to disclose.