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Electrocardiographic Markers of Appropriate Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator Therapy in Young People with Congenital Heart Diseases

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Abstract

Implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) are increasingly utilized in patients with congenital heart disease (CHD). Prediction of the occurrence of shocks is important if improved patient selection is desired. The electrocardiogram (ECG) has been the first-line tool predicting the risk of sudden death, but data in CHD patients are lacking. We aim to evaluate the predictive value of electrocardiographic markers of appropriate therapy of ICD in young people with CHD. We conducted a prospective, longitudinal study, in twenty-six CHD patients (mean age 24.7 ± 5.3 years) who underwent first ICD implantation. Forty-two age- and diagnosis-matched controls were recruited. Twelve-lead ECG and 24 h Holter analysis were performed during a mean follow-up of 38.9 months. Data included heart rate, heart rate variability, QRS duration (QRSd), QTc interval and its dispersion, Tpeak–Tend (Tp–Te) interval and its dispersion, presence of fragmented QRS (fQRS), T wave alternans, atrial arrhythmias, and non-sustained ventricular tachycardia. Implant indication was primary prevention in ten cases (38.5%) and secondary prevention in 16 (61.5%). Overall, 17 subjects (65.3%) received at least one appropriate and effective ICD discharge. fQRS was present in 64.7% of cases with ICD therapy compared with patients without events or controls (p < 0.0001). Tp–e and Tp–e dispersion were significantly prolonged in patients with recurrences (113.5 and 37.2 ms) versus patients without ICD discharge (89.6 and 24.1 ms) or controls (72.4 and 19.3 ms) (p < 0.0001 and p < 0.0001, respectively). On univariate Cox regression analysis QRSd (hazard ratio: 1.19 per ms, p = 0.003), QTc dispersion (hazard ratio: 1.57 per ms, p = 0.002), fQRS (hazard ratio: 3.58 p < 0.0001), Tp–e (hazard ratio: 2.27 per ms, p < 0.0001), and Tp–e dispersion (hazard ratio: 4.15 per ms, p < 0.0001), emerged as strong predictors of outcome. On multivariate Cox analysis fQRS, Tp–e and Tp–e dispersion remained in the model. The presence of fQRS, and both Tp–e and Tp–e dispersion are useful ECG tools in daily clinical practice to identify CHD patients at risk for appropriate ICD therapy.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Cardiocentro Pediátrico William Soler, San Francisco e/100 y Perla, Altahabana, Boyeros, Havana, 10800, Cuba

    Dunia Bárbara Benítez Ramos

  2. Section of Arrhythmia and Cardiac Pacing, Cardiocentro Pediátrico William Soler, 100 y Perla, Altahabana, Boyeros, Havana, Cuba

    Michel Cabrera Ortega

  3. Service of Arrhythmia and Cardiac Pacing, Instituto de Cardiología y Cirugía Cardiovascular, 17 y Paseo, Plaza de la Revolución, Vedado, Havana, Cuba

    Jesús Castro Hevia, Margarita Dorantes Sánchez, Ailema Amelia Alemán Fernández, Osmin Castañeda Chirino, Marlenis Cruz Cardentey, Frank Martínez López & Roylan Falcón Rodríguez

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  1. Dunia Bárbara Benítez Ramos
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Correspondence to Dunia Bárbara Benítez Ramos.

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All procedures performed in the study were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional research committee, ethical commitee, and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration.

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Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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Benítez Ramos, D.B., Cabrera Ortega, M., Castro Hevia, J. et al. Electrocardiographic Markers of Appropriate Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator Therapy in Young People with Congenital Heart Diseases. Pediatr Cardiol 38, 1663–1671 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00246-017-1711-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00246-017-1711-9

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