Diagnostic performance of the fragmented QRS complex on electrocardiogram for detecting myocardial scars assessed by 3.0 Tesla cardiac magnetic resonance imaging

Background: Fragmented QRS complex (f-QRS) on a 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) has been associated with myocardial scars. However, its diagnostic accuracy for detecting myocardial scars assessed by cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging remains uncertain. Objective: To evaluate the diagnostic per...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Kasin Viriyanukulvong, MD, MSc, Nonthikorn Theerasuwipakorn, MD, MSc, Wanwarang Wongcharoen, MD, Paisit Kosum, MD, MSc, Ronpichai Chokesuwattanaskul, MD, MSc
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-08-01
Series:Heart Rhythm O2
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666501825001643
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849226896427974656
author Kasin Viriyanukulvong, MD, MSc
Nonthikorn Theerasuwipakorn, MD, MSc
Wanwarang Wongcharoen, MD
Paisit Kosum, MD, MSc
Ronpichai Chokesuwattanaskul, MD, MSc
author_facet Kasin Viriyanukulvong, MD, MSc
Nonthikorn Theerasuwipakorn, MD, MSc
Wanwarang Wongcharoen, MD
Paisit Kosum, MD, MSc
Ronpichai Chokesuwattanaskul, MD, MSc
author_sort Kasin Viriyanukulvong, MD, MSc
collection DOAJ
description Background: Fragmented QRS complex (f-QRS) on a 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) has been associated with myocardial scars. However, its diagnostic accuracy for detecting myocardial scars assessed by cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging remains uncertain. Objective: To evaluate the diagnostic performance of f-QRS for detecting myocardial scars assessed by 3.0 CMR. Methods: Patients who underwent 3.0 Tesla CMR between May 2020 and May 2023 were included. A 12-lead ECG was assessed for f-QRS, defined as the presence of an R' wave or notching in the nadir of the S wave in at least 2 contiguous leads. The diagnostic performance of f-QRS in detecting myocardial scars in corresponding left ventricular segments was analyzed. Results: Overall, 1692 patients were included. f-QRS presented in 826 (49%) participants which were more prevalent in men (59.4% vs 46.0%), those with a history of coronary artery disease (26.4% vs 20.6%), and those with myocardial scars (48.9% vs 37.3). The sensitivity and specificity of f-QRS from ECG were 25.6% and 88.7% for anterior; 22.1% and 91.5%, for lateral; and 42.9% and 63.4% for inferior segments. Conclusion: f-QRS demonstrates high specificity for detecting myocardial scars on CMR, though its sensitivity is limited.
format Article
id doaj-art-d02c15a145d143f29b7c08f6d50d1fd8
institution Kabale University
issn 2666-5018
language English
publishDate 2025-08-01
publisher Elsevier
record_format Article
series Heart Rhythm O2
spelling doaj-art-d02c15a145d143f29b7c08f6d50d1fd82025-08-24T05:14:44ZengElsevierHeart Rhythm O22666-50182025-08-01681175118110.1016/j.hroo.2025.05.014Diagnostic performance of the fragmented QRS complex on electrocardiogram for detecting myocardial scars assessed by 3.0 Tesla cardiac magnetic resonance imagingKasin Viriyanukulvong, MD, MSc0Nonthikorn Theerasuwipakorn, MD, MSc1Wanwarang Wongcharoen, MD2Paisit Kosum, MD, MSc3Ronpichai Chokesuwattanaskul, MD, MSc4Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Bangkok, ThailandDivision of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand; Cardiac Center, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Bangkok, ThailandDivision of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, ThailandDivision of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Naresuan University, Phitsanulok, ThailandDivision of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand; Center of Excellence in Arrhythmia Research, Cardiac Center, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand; Address reprint requests and corresponding author: Ronpichai Chokesuwattanaskul, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, and Center of Excellence in Arrhythmia Research, Cardiac Center, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand.Background: Fragmented QRS complex (f-QRS) on a 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) has been associated with myocardial scars. However, its diagnostic accuracy for detecting myocardial scars assessed by cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging remains uncertain. Objective: To evaluate the diagnostic performance of f-QRS for detecting myocardial scars assessed by 3.0 CMR. Methods: Patients who underwent 3.0 Tesla CMR between May 2020 and May 2023 were included. A 12-lead ECG was assessed for f-QRS, defined as the presence of an R' wave or notching in the nadir of the S wave in at least 2 contiguous leads. The diagnostic performance of f-QRS in detecting myocardial scars in corresponding left ventricular segments was analyzed. Results: Overall, 1692 patients were included. f-QRS presented in 826 (49%) participants which were more prevalent in men (59.4% vs 46.0%), those with a history of coronary artery disease (26.4% vs 20.6%), and those with myocardial scars (48.9% vs 37.3). The sensitivity and specificity of f-QRS from ECG were 25.6% and 88.7% for anterior; 22.1% and 91.5%, for lateral; and 42.9% and 63.4% for inferior segments. Conclusion: f-QRS demonstrates high specificity for detecting myocardial scars on CMR, though its sensitivity is limited.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666501825001643Cardiac magnetic resonanceElectrocardiogramFragmented QRSLow-pass filterMyocardial scar
spellingShingle Kasin Viriyanukulvong, MD, MSc
Nonthikorn Theerasuwipakorn, MD, MSc
Wanwarang Wongcharoen, MD
Paisit Kosum, MD, MSc
Ronpichai Chokesuwattanaskul, MD, MSc
Diagnostic performance of the fragmented QRS complex on electrocardiogram for detecting myocardial scars assessed by 3.0 Tesla cardiac magnetic resonance imaging
Heart Rhythm O2
Cardiac magnetic resonance
Electrocardiogram
Fragmented QRS
Low-pass filter
Myocardial scar
title Diagnostic performance of the fragmented QRS complex on electrocardiogram for detecting myocardial scars assessed by 3.0 Tesla cardiac magnetic resonance imaging
title_full Diagnostic performance of the fragmented QRS complex on electrocardiogram for detecting myocardial scars assessed by 3.0 Tesla cardiac magnetic resonance imaging
title_fullStr Diagnostic performance of the fragmented QRS complex on electrocardiogram for detecting myocardial scars assessed by 3.0 Tesla cardiac magnetic resonance imaging
title_full_unstemmed Diagnostic performance of the fragmented QRS complex on electrocardiogram for detecting myocardial scars assessed by 3.0 Tesla cardiac magnetic resonance imaging
title_short Diagnostic performance of the fragmented QRS complex on electrocardiogram for detecting myocardial scars assessed by 3.0 Tesla cardiac magnetic resonance imaging
title_sort diagnostic performance of the fragmented qrs complex on electrocardiogram for detecting myocardial scars assessed by 3 0 tesla cardiac magnetic resonance imaging
topic Cardiac magnetic resonance
Electrocardiogram
Fragmented QRS
Low-pass filter
Myocardial scar
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666501825001643
work_keys_str_mv AT kasinviriyanukulvongmdmsc diagnosticperformanceofthefragmentedqrscomplexonelectrocardiogramfordetectingmyocardialscarsassessedby30teslacardiacmagneticresonanceimaging
AT nonthikorntheerasuwipakornmdmsc diagnosticperformanceofthefragmentedqrscomplexonelectrocardiogramfordetectingmyocardialscarsassessedby30teslacardiacmagneticresonanceimaging
AT wanwarangwongcharoenmd diagnosticperformanceofthefragmentedqrscomplexonelectrocardiogramfordetectingmyocardialscarsassessedby30teslacardiacmagneticresonanceimaging
AT paisitkosummdmsc diagnosticperformanceofthefragmentedqrscomplexonelectrocardiogramfordetectingmyocardialscarsassessedby30teslacardiacmagneticresonanceimaging
AT ronpichaichokesuwattanaskulmdmsc diagnosticperformanceofthefragmentedqrscomplexonelectrocardiogramfordetectingmyocardialscarsassessedby30teslacardiacmagneticresonanceimaging