Exercise-Induced QRS Prolongation in Brugada Syndrome

Background

Abnormal ventricular activation at rest is reported in Brugada syndrome (BrS).

Objectives

The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of dynamic changes in ventricular activation during exercise to improve disease phenotyping and diagnosis of BrS.

Methods

Digital 12-lead electrocardiograms during stress testing were analyzed retrospectively at baseline, peak exercise, and recovery in 53 patients with BrS and 52 controls. Biventricular activation was assessed from QRS duration (QRSd), whereas right ventricular activation was assessed from S wave duration in the lateral leads (I and V₆) and terminal R wave duration in aVR. Exercise-induced changes in QRS parameters to predict a positive procainamide response were assessed in separate test and validation cohorts with suspected BrS.

Results

Baseline electrocardiogram parameters were similar between BrS and controls. QRSd shortened with exercise in all controls but prolonged in all BrS (−6.1 ± 6.0 ms vs 7.1 ± 6.5 ms [P < 0.001] in V₆). QRSd in recovery was longer in BrS compared with controls (90 ± 12 ms vs 82 ± 11 ms in V₆; P = 0.002). Both groups demonstrated exercise-induced S duration prolongation in V6, with greater prolongation in BrS (8.2 ± 14.3 ms vs 1.2 ± 12.4 ms; P < 0.001). Any exercise-induced QRSd prolongation in V₆ differentiated those with a positive vs negative procainamide response with 100% sensitivity and 95% specificity in the test cohort, and 87% sensitivity and 93% specificity in the validation cohort.

Conclusions

Exercise-induced QRSd prolongation is ubiquitous in BrS primarily owing to delayed right ventricular activation. This electrocardiogram phenotype predicts a positive procainamide response and may provide a noninvasive screening tool to aid in the diagnosis of BrS before drug challenge.