Electrocardiographic amplitudes: a new risk factor for sudden death in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

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Abstract
Assessment of ECG-features as predictors of sudden death in adults with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). ECG-amplitude sums were measured in 44 normals, 34 athletes, a hospital-cohort of 87 HCM-patients, and 29 HCM-patients with sudden death or cardiac arrest (HCM-CA). HCM-patients with sudden death or cardiac arrest had substantially higher ECG-amplitudes than the HCM-cohort for limb-lead and 12-lead QRS-amplitude sums, and amplitude–duration products (P = 0.00003–P = 0.000002). Separation of HCM-CA from the HCM-cohort is obtained by limb-lead QRS-amplitude sum ≥7.7 mV (odds ratio 18.8, sensitivity 87%, negative predictive value (NPV) 94%, P < 0.0001), 12-lead amplitude–duration product ≥2.2 mV s (odds ratio 31.0, sensitivity 92%, NPV 97%, P < 0.0001), and limb-lead amplitude–duration product ≥0.70 mV s (odds ratio 31.5, sensitivity 93%, NPV 96%, P < 0.0001). Sensitivity in HCM-patients P = 0.0003), ST-depression (P = 0.0010), and dominant S-wave in V4 (P = 0.0048). A risk score is proposed; a score ≥6 gives a sensitivity of 85% but a higher positive predictive value than above measures. Optimal separation between HCM-CA P < 0.0001). Twelve-lead ECG is a powerful instrument for risk-stratification in HCM.