Open AccessInfluence of Paper Electrocardiogram Digitizing on T Wave and QRS Complex Morphology Parameters
Author(s) -
Karsikas Mari,
Huikuri Heikki,
Perkiömäki Juha S.,
Lehtola Lea,
Seppänen Tapio
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
annals of noninvasive electrocardiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.494
H-Index - 48
eISSN - 1542-474X
pISSN - 1082-720X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1542-474x.2007.00176.x
Subject(s) - qrs complex , artificial intelligence , medicine , robustness (evolution) , dipole , pattern recognition (psychology) , electrocardiography , cardiology , computer science , physics , biochemistry , chemistry , quantum mechanics , gene
Backround: Many morphological parameters of the electrocardiogram (ECG) can be calculated from a digital ECG and paper prints of ECG after digitizing. However, the digitizing process, including printing, scanning, ECG contour extraction, and alignment, can produce changes to the signals, reducing the reliability of some sensitive parameters of QRS complex and T wave. Methods: The influence of the digitizing process on the parameters of T wave and QRS complex morphology was studied by comparing systematically the values of the nine ECG morphology parameters, computed from the digital ECG and the corresponding paper ECG. The robustness of the parameters to the digitizing process and their discrimination ability between healthy subjects and postinfarction patients were investigated. Results: The standard T wave parameters and all selected dipolar loop‐parameters retained their robustness and discrimination ability during the digitizing process of the paper ECGs. The non‐dipolar parameters distorted strongly, especially those of the QRS complex. The T wave‐based non‐dipolar parameters retained their discrimination ability during the digitizing process. Conclusions: The selected standard T wave parameters and the dipolar loop‐parameters calculated from properly digitized ECG paper prints can be utilized in patient studies. Non‐dipolar parameters distort strongly but T wave‐based parameters retain discriminatory information.