Beat-to-beat spatiotemporal variability in the T vector is associated with sudden cardiac death in participants without left ventricular hypertrophy: The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study

Jonathan W. Waks, Elsayed Z. Soliman, Charles A. Henrikson, Nona Sotoodehnia, Lichy Han, Sunil K. Agarwal, Dan E. Arking, David S. Siscovick, Scott D. Solomon, Wendy S. Post, Mark E. Josephson, Josef Coresh, Larisa G. Tereshchenko

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

18 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: Despite advances in prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease, sudden cardiac death (SCD) remains a clinical challenge. Risk stratification in the general population is needed. Methods and Results-Beat-to-beat spatiotemporal variability in the T vector was measured as the mean angle between consecutive T-wave vectors (mean TT' angle) on standard 12-lead ECGs in 14 024 participants in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study. Subjects with left ventricular hypertrophy, atrial arrhythmias, frequent ectopy, ventricular pacing, or QRS duration ≥120 ms were excluded. The mean spatial TT' angle was 5.21±3.55°. During a median of 14 years of follow-up, 235 SCDs occurred (1.24 per 1000 person-years). After adjustment for demographics, coronary heart disease risk factors, and known ECG markers for SCD, mean TT' angle was independently associated with SCD (hazard ratio 1.089; 95% CI 1.044 to 1.137; P<0.0001). A mean TT' angle >90th percentile (>9.57°) was associated with a 2-fold increase in the hazard for SCD (hazard ratio 2.01; 95% CI 1.28 to 3.16; P=0.002). In a subgroup of patients with T-vector amplitude =0.2 mV, the association with SCD was almost twice as strong (hazard ratio 3.92; 95% CI 1.91 to 8.05; P<0.0001). A significant interaction between mean TT' angle and age was found: TT' angle was associated with SCD in participants aged <55 years (hazard ratio 1.096; 95% CI 0.043 to 1.152; P<0.0001) but not in participants aged ≥55 years (Pinteraction=0.009). Conclusions-In a large, prospective, community-based cohort of left ventricular hypertrophy-free participants, increased beat-tobeat spatiotemporal variability in the T vector, as assessed by increasing TT' angle, was associated with SCD.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article numbere001357
JournalJournal of the American Heart Association
Volume4
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 2015

Keywords

  • Atherosclerosis
  • Electrocardiography
  • Electrophysiology
  • Epidemiology
  • Sudden cardiac death
  • TT' angle

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine

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