Vectorcardiographic QRS area as a predictor of response to cardiac resynchronization therapy

Abstract

Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is a good treatment for heart failure accompanied by ventricular conduction abnormalities. Current ECG criteria in international guidelines seem to be suboptimal to select heart failure patients for CRT. The criteria QRS duration and left bundle branch block (LBBB) QRS morphology insufficiently detect left ventricular activation delay, which is required for benefit from CRT. Additionally, there are various definitions for LBBB, in which each one has a different association with CRT benefit and is prone to subjective interpretation. Recent studies have shown that the objectively measured vectorcardiographic QRS area identifies left ventricular activation delay with higher accuracy than any of the current ECG criteria. Indeed, various studies have consistently shown that a high QRS area prior to CRT predicts both echocardiographic and clinical improvement after CRT. The beneficial relation of QRS area with CRT-outcome was largely independent from QRS morphology, QRS duration, and patient characteristics known to affect CRT-outcome including ischemic etiology and sex. On top of QRS area prior to CRT, the reduction in QRS area after CRT further improves benefit. QRS area is easily obtainable from a standard 12-lead ECG though it currently requires off-line analysis. Clinical applicability will be significantly improved when QRS area is automatically determined by ECG equipment.