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Association between fragmented QRS complexes and left ventricular dysfunction in healthy smokers
Author(s) -
Bayramoğlu Adil,
Taşolar Hakan,
Bektaş Osman,
Kaya Ahmet,
Günaydın Zeki Yüksel
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
echocardiography
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.404
H-Index - 62
eISSN - 1540-8175
pISSN - 0742-2822
DOI - 10.1111/echo.14223
Subject(s) - medicine , ventricle , subclinical infection , cardiology , myocardial fibrosis , qrs complex , speckle tracking echocardiography , coronary artery disease , fibrosis , heart failure , ejection fraction
Objective Smoking is a known risk factor for cardiovascular diseases and may cause myocardial damage independently of coronary artery disease. Fragmented QRS ( fQRS ) is an important marker of myocardial fibrosis, while speckle‐tracking echocardiography is a method used to show subclinical left ventricle dysfunction. Methods Our study included 230 healthy individuals aged 18–40 years. The patients included were separated into two groups: those smokers (n = 130) and non‐smokers (n = 100). After that healthy smokers group were divided into two groups: those with fQRS (n = 24) and those without (n = 106). In both groups, the arithmetic mean of three images was used to obtain the left ventricle global longitudinal strain ( LV ‐ GLS ). The E/ SR e ratio was also calculated and analyzed. Results There were significant differences between the smokers and non‐smokers in terms of, E/ SR e (55.7 ± 17.9 vs 50.3 ± 14.8; P = 0.015), LV ‐ GLS (23.1 ± 1.9 vs 24.0 ± 1.7; P = 0.001), and fQRS (18.5% vs 6%; P = 0.005). As a result of subgroup analysis, pack‐year history was higher in the fQRS positive group (16.7 ± 3.7 vs 11.2 ± 3.7, P < 0.001). While a negative correlation was observed between pack‐year history and LV ‐ GLS ( r = –0.678, P < 0.001), there was a positive correlation between pack‐year history and E/ SR e ( r = 0.730, P < 0.001). Conclusion In conclusion, our study demonstrated that fQRS is a parameter that can be used to determine left ventricle subclinical systolic and diastolic dysfunction in smokers, and that left ventricle dysfunction is related to the duration and intensity of smoking.