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Updated: Aug 21, 2026

Transthoracic Speckle Tracking Echocardiography for the Quantitative Assessment of Left Ventricular Myocardial Deformation
Published on: October 20, 2016
QRS dispersion: an electrocardiographic index of systolic left ventricular dysfunction in patients with left bundle
Insights
Complete left bundle branch block (LBBB) can impair left ventricular (LV) systolic function in heart failure patients. QRS dispersion (QRSD) effectively predicts LV systolic dysfunction, serving as a valuable screening tool.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Electrocardiography
- Cardiac Electrophysiology
Background:
- Congestive heart failure (CHF) patients with complete left bundle branch block (LBBB) may experience impaired left ventricular (LV) systolic function.
- The predictive value of QRS duration (QRSd) and QRS dispersion (QRSD) for LV systolic performance in LBBB patients requires further evaluation.
Discussion:
- This study investigated the relationship between electrocardiographic parameters (QRSd and QRSD) and LV systolic function in 130 patients with complete LBBB.
- Ejection fraction was assessed using standard echocardiography, alongside measurements of QRSd and QRSD.
Key Insights:
- QRS dispersion (QRSD) demonstrates a strong correlation with left ventricular (LV) contractility in patients with complete left bundle branch block (LBBB).
- QRSD emerges as a significant predictor of LV systolic dysfunction.
Outlook:
- The findings suggest that QRSD can serve as a simple and effective electrocardiographic screening test for identifying patients with LV systolic dysfunction.
- Further research may explore the integration of QRSD into clinical decision-making for heart failure management in LBBB patients.
Abstract:
The presence of complete left bundle branch block (LBBB) in patients with congestive heart failure has been proposed to be a factor that negatively affects left ventricular (LV) systolic function. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relative predictive value of QRS dispersion (QRSD) and QRS duration (QRSd) in relation to systolic performance of the left ventricle. The ejection fraction of 130 consecutive patients with LBBB was evaluated by standard echocardiographic methods, whereas QRSd and QRSD were measured. It was demonstrated that QRSD in patients with complete LBBB is strongly related to LV contractility. We, therefore, suggest that this simple electrocardiographic index may serve as a useful screening test for detection of patients with LV systolic dysfunction.
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