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Insights into the importance of the electrocardiogram in patients with acute heart failure
Author(s) -
Gouda Pishoy,
Brown Paul,
Rowe Brian H.,
McAlister Finlay A.,
Ezekowitz Justin A.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
european journal of heart failure
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.149
H-Index - 133
eISSN - 1879-0844
pISSN - 1388-9842
DOI - 10.1002/ejhf.561
Subject(s) - medicine , interquartile range , hazard ratio , heart failure , emergency department , sinus rhythm , cardiology , population , ejection fraction , confidence interval , qrs complex , emergency medicine , atrial fibrillation , environmental health , psychiatry
Abstract Background Patients presenting to the emergency department ( ED ) with acute heart failure ( AHF ) are at an increased risk of morbidity and mortality. The electrocardiogram ( ECG ) is a routine investigation in patients with AHF used to identify potential causes and/or complications. It is unclear whether 12‐lead ECG characteristics can serve as a prognostic indicator in this population. Methods and results Patients with AHF from four hospital EDs were prospectively enrolled into the AHF – Emergency Management cohort. In addition to baseline data collection, the first available ECG was read in a core laboratory. Clinical outcomes (all‐cause mortality and readmission) were recorded and risk models were developed. Of 937 enrolled patients, 816 had a diagnosis of AHF and an available ECG . Median age of the population was 77 [interquartile range ( IQR ) 67–85], 47% were female and median ejection fraction was 45% ( IQR 30–55). Abnormalities were common, with only 7.5% of patients having a normal ECG . During the median follow‐up of 25.7 months, there were 379 (46%) all‐cause deaths and 328 (40%) hospital readmissions. Sinus rhythm was associated with better outcomes [hazard ratio ( HR ) 0.76; 95% confidence interval ( CI ) 0.62, 0.94], while paced rhythms ( HR 1.51, 95% CI 1.11, 2.05), a wide QRS ( HR 1.29, 95% CI 1.04, 1.59) and an ECG with any abnormality ( HR 1.57, 95% CI 1.01, 2.44) was associated with poorer outcomes. Other individual ECG characteristics were not related to clinical outcomes after risk adjustment. Conclusions Certain ECG abnormalities are common in patients with AHF and associated with poor outcomes. Used in conjunction with other clinical variables, the ECG may be a useful tool in long‐term risk stratifying patients.