Fragmented QRS as an early predictor of left ventricular systolic dysfunction in healthy individuals: a nested case-control study in the era of speckle tracking echocardiography

Left ventricular (LV) systolic function is an important clinical finding in cardiology. It is applied in prevention, diagnosis, prognostication, and treatment ina variety of cardiovascular conditions. Speckle tracking echocardiography (STE) measures LV systolic function quantitatively through detecting subtle myocardial deformations. Using this technique, the most sensitive and reproducible parameter capable of early detection of malfunctions is the global longitudinal strain (GLS) [1]. The functionality of GLS is more pronounced in the case of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) being normal [2].

Less than two decades ago, fragmentation of QRS complex (fQRS) was coined on 12-lead EKG [3]. Abnormal deflections in QRS morphology is simply known as fQRS which originates from conduction delay and disrupted ventricular depolarization due to myocardial scarring [4, 5]. fQRS is found in several cardiovascular and non-cardiovascular disorders including structural heart diseases [6‐8]. Several studies suggested the potential clinical utility of Fqrs. For example, although pathologic Q-wave is known as the marker of myocardial infarction (MI) on a 12-lead EKG, its capacity in detecting myocardial scars is confined to only about one third of patients with documented MI [9, 10]. It has been suggested that fQRS is more sensitive than Q-wave for identifying myocardial scars [11]. Also, an association between fQRS and regional and global LV dysfunction has been reported in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). Adverse major cardiac events have been predicted by fQRS in these patients in spite of a normal ejection fraction [12].

About 6–10% of apparent healthy individuals show fQRS [13]. In a general population free of clinical cardiac diseases, fQRS was a common finding [14]. Because the majority of studies fQRS was focused on diseased populations, the present study was designed to investigate the capacity of fQRS as an early predictor of LV systolic dysfunction in apparent healthy individuals.

This nested case-control study was done in the setting of a prospective cohort, Shiraz Heart Study (SHS), which is conducted on general population of Shiraz city aiming to analyze cardiovascular risk factors [15]. The present study has been conducted in accordance with the declaration of Helsinki and has been approved by the Ethical Committee of Shiraz University of Medical Sciences. All the study subjects provided written informed consent.

Inclusion criteria were negative past medical history, normal lipid profile, normal blood pressure, normal anthropometric indices as well as non-smokers and non-diabetics. Exclusion criteria were history of CAD, history of major risk factors for CAD (hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and hyperlipidemia), angina pectoris, acute coronary syndrome, cardiomyopathies, receiving any cardiovascular-related medications, implantation of pacemaker, heart valve disease, atrial fibrillation and flutter, rheumatism, renal disease, malignancy, pulmonary hypertension, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Among those who met inclusion and exclusion criteria, random sampling was utilized in order to select 500 subjects.

A resting 12-lead EKG has obtained previously from the all the participants as the cohort scheduled procedure (filter settings: 0.5–150 Hz, 25 mm/s, 10 mm/mV). The EKGs of 500 subjects were thoroughly evaluated by two independent cardiologists seeking for QRS fragmentation. Notching in the R or S wave in the absence of a branch block, or an RSR’ pattern additional to the original QRS wave (< 120 ms) were defined as fQRS [16]. Upon disagreement on interpretation of an EKG, it was referred to a third cardiologist. Existence of fQRS was confirmed in conference in twenty subjects (case group). Similarly, out of remaining480, twenty age-matched subjects without fQRS were assigned as control group. Fragmentation was classified based on its location to anterior (V1 to V5), inferior (DII, DIII, aVF), or lateral (DI, aVL, V5, V6) leads.

Subjects in the two groups were asked to attend in the clinic. EKGs were repeated in order to find any possible new changes or arrhythmias by an expert who was blinded to grouping. Then, STE was performed with a commercially available ultrasound scanner (Vivid E9, General Electric Medical Systems, Horten, Norway) with a 2.5-MHz transducer by a single blinded echoman cardiologist. Echocardiograms were obtained in three-, two- and four-chamber apical views at a rate of 50 to 70 frames/s with the patient holding their breath during at least three cardiac cycles. Endocardial borders were automatically marked and tracking was applied to each image. In satisfactory tracking, the entire cardiac wall (endocardium through myoepicardial border) was covered. The LV was divided into four segments in 3-chamber view, and six segments in 2- and 4-chamber view, totally 16 segments were assessed. If the segments were marked by the software automatically, the obtained data were recorded. Otherwise, they were corrected manually. Image analysis was done by AFI system.

Peak systolic longitudinal strains (LS) of different segments were calculated and then, average LS for each view was produced. GLS was the arithmetic mean of LSs in three apical views. GLS of > 20% was assumed to be normal [17]. Dimensions and volumes of the left ventricle were measured according to the guidelines of the American Society of Echocardiography. Also, LVEF was calculated by Simpson rule [18]. Preserved EF was considered as EF ≥50% [19].

The statistical analysis was done in SPSS for Windows (release 14.0, SPSS Inc., Chicago, Illinois). Categorical variables are expressed as number (percentages) and continuous variables as mean ± standard deviation (SD). Comparison between variables were done using chi square, independent samples t test or ANOVA when appropriate. P value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

The age range of the participants was 40 to 60 years old (mean of 50.3 ± 6.5) and higher prevalence of male subjects (75%). (Table 1). Mean LVEF was 59.3 ± 2.9% and the mean GLS was 20.7 ± 1.8 which were within the normal range [17, 19]. Participants were grouped into those with (cases) and without (controls) fQRS (20 subjects in each group). According to the Table 2, there were no significant differences in age, gender, EF, left ventricular end-diastolic volume (LVEDV), left ventricular end-systolic volume (LVESV), and LV size between case and control groups.

GLS was below the normal range (≤20%) in 14 subjects and 10 of these subjects had fQRS. EF and other variables did not differ significantly between those with reduced GLS and peers with normal GLS.

In the group with fQRS, this was localized in the inferior leads in 50% of subjects, equally distributed in anterior and lateral leads in the remaining subjects. The position of fragmentation was not significantly associateed with abnormal changes in GLS or EF (Table 3).

When analyzing the LS in different segments, the group with fQRS showed a lower LS than the control group in five segments which included base-, mid-, and apex- of septal, base of anteroseptal and base of inferior. Also, there was significant reduction of LS in apical 4-chamber view, while LS in apical three- and two-chamber views did not differ significantly between case and control groups. Overall, GLS was significantly lower in the group with fQRS than the control group (Table 4). Moreover, longitudinal strains in different locations of QRS fragmentation (anterior, inferior, and lateral) was compared in Table 5.

This nested case-control study was designed in order to investigate the association, if any, between fQRS and left ventricular dysfunction in apparently healthy people. Although the correlation between fQRS and cardiac disorders has been demonstrated in several diseased status [6, 20], but the importance of this QRS alteration has never been tested in a general population sample. The main finding of the present study is that in apparent healthy subjects with normal EF, those with fQRS had lower GLS than those without fQRS.

Scarring of the myocardium following by zigzag pattern of electrical conduction produces fQRS spikes [21]. fQRS is known as an indicator of previous myocardial injury and warns possible future adverse cardiac events [21]. It was reported that fQRS possibly is the only evidence of silent MI in high risk individuals [3]. Moreover, fQRS was known as a sign of premature ventricular contractions in individuals without obvious structural heart diseases [22]. It was shown to be superior than Q wave for detecting myocardial scar in terms of sensitivity and negative predictive value, but not of specificity [23]. However, in a more recent study, higher sensitivity and specificity of fQRS than Q wave was declared [24]. Also, in case of disappearance of MI-related Q wave due to revascularization therapies, fQRS would be a validated replacement [20].

Existence of fQRS in different EKG leads simply translates into tissue scarring in different segments of the heart and is associated to the higher incidence of cardiac death and hospitalization [21]. Severity and complexity of CAD was reported to be in relation with the number of EKG leads with fQRS [25]. Accordingly, fQRS could be a guiding tool to identify regions of interest for ablation, being potentially more prone to ventricular arrhythmias [20]. The potential of fQRS in predicting arrhythmic events, need for revascularization, MI, cardiac death, and all-cause mortality was shown in subjects with different cardiac disorders [23, 26, 27]. However, there are reports which questioned the capability of fQRS to localize myocardial scar and predict arrhythmic events, and mortality [4, 28‐33].

EF, which is a popular tool to estimate LV function, is able to reflect moderate to severe impairment in the ventricles. Also, this parameter suffers several limitations. Of note, EF mostly contributes to the myocardial changes in radial axis while longitudinal deformations are being neglected [34]. Strain is the more developed and accurate measurement than volumetric parameter of EF. It demonstrates fine myocardial deformations in longitudinal, circumferential, and radial axis and also, changes in torsion [34]. Among strains, GLS is of particular importance due to its sensitivity and robustness [35, 36]. The association of mortality with GLS was stronger than LVEF [37]. GLS, which is obtained by STE, measures myocardial deformations via tracing of speckles’ displacement [5, 16, 38]. Reduction in absolute GLS value is an indicator of a myocardial disease in most cases and portends future adverse events [35].

In an investigation on patients with systemic sclerosis, fQRS was present while LVEF and LV dimensions were normal. Importantly, GLS was significantly lower in these patients than in the control group [39]. In a comparison within apparent healthy individuals, GLS was significantly lower in those with fQRS than those without fQRS despite normal similar EF [40].. Although GLS reduction is a sign of LV malfunction, but GLS is also affected by other factors such as age, gender, and ethnicity [41‐44]. Also, changes in physiological parameters like heart rate affects GLS in healthy individuals [45]. Hypertension, obesity, dyslipidemia, diabetes and medications were also considered as factors that modifiy GLS value. Vendor-specific disparities and timing of measurements should also be considered in GLS evaluation [35].

fQRS in individuals with normal EF may be due to the existence of myocardial fibrosis of subclinical scale which in turn boasts fQRS sensitivity [22, 24]. EKG remains a convenient, cost-effective, and informative tool. EKG-born fQRS could play a valuable role in identifying individuals among general population who are prone to LV systolic dysfunction and consequent heart failure. A simple EKG has the potential to draw cardiologists’ attention for further assessment of the heart function with more sophisticated tools and parameters such as STE and GLS to find minor, but life-threatening events.

Because of the rising interest for fQRS in several pathological conditions, we investigated its importance in apparently healthy subjects. In these subjects, fQRS was associated with regional LV systolic dysfunction, assessed by GLS, in the presence of a normal ejection fraction. These data suggest that fQRS should not be considered as an innocent finding in healthy individuals.