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QRS prolongation after cardiac resynchronization therapy is a predictor of persistent mechanical dyssynchrony

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Journal of Interventional Cardiac Electrophysiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

Prolonged QRS duration is the main selection criterion for cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) which ameliorates left ventricular mechanical dyssynchrony (MD). However, consequences of post-CRT QRS prolongation and residual MD have been poorly evaluated. We aimed to define the predictors of persistent MD and hypothesized that CRT-induced QRS change (ΔQRS) might have an impact on residual MD after CRT.

Methods

A total of 80 patients receiving CRT were included in the study. ΔQRS was calculated as the difference between the baseline and paced QRS intervals. Residual MD was assessed early after device implantation with a longitudinal dyssynchrony index (Yu index). Significant MD was defined as a Yu index ≥ 33 msec. Two groups were created based on residual MD and compared according to clinical, electrocardiographic and echocardiographic features.

Results

Patients with persistent MD had longer paced QRS durations (182.5 ± 16.2 vs. 165.4 ± 22.5 msec, p = 0.03) and were less likely to have left ventricular (LV) leads located in the posterolateral vein (53 % vs. 85 %, p = 0.002). The linear correlation between the ΔQRS and the Yu index values was modest (Spearman’s rho = −0.341, p = 0.002); additionally, a prolonged QRS was strongly associated with MD after CRT (p = 0.00008). Both LV lead localization and CRT-induced QRS prolongation emerged as the significant predictors of persistent MD. A biventricularly paced QRS more than 10 msec longer than the pre-paced QRS width was predictive of persistent MD after CRT (sensitivity = 80 %, specificity = 62 %).

Conclusions

ΔQRS was found to be associated with residual MD after CRT. Ten milliseconds of QRS prolongation predicted persistent MD after CRT.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to the entire staff and the nurses of the cardiology department of Medipol University for their excellent support and cooperation during the entire study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Cardiology Department, Medipol University Faculty of Medicine, Tem Otoyolu Göztepe Çıkışı No:1, Bağcılar, 34214, İstanbul, Turkey

    Oguz Karaca, Onur Omaygenc, Beytullah Cakal, Sinem Deniz Cakal, Irfan Barutcu, Bilal Boztosun & Fethi Kilicaslan

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  1. Oguz Karaca
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  2. Onur Omaygenc
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  3. Beytullah Cakal
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  4. Sinem Deniz Cakal
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  5. Irfan Barutcu
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  7. Fethi Kilicaslan
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Correspondence to Oguz Karaca.

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The local ethics committee approved the study protocol, and a written informed consent was obtained from all participants.

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Karaca, O., Omaygenc, O., Cakal, B. et al. QRS prolongation after cardiac resynchronization therapy is a predictor of persistent mechanical dyssynchrony. J Interv Card Electrophysiol 46, 105–113 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10840-015-0080-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10840-015-0080-7

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