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A planar QRS-T angle >90 degrees is associated with multivessel coronary artery disease in patients undergoing

Chandrasekar Palaniswamy1, Tarunjit Singh, Wilbert S Aronow

  • 1Department of Medicine, Cardiology Division, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY 10595, USA.

Medical Science Monitor : International Medical Journal of Experimental and Clinical Research
|December 1, 2009
PubMed

Insights

An elevated planar QRS-T angle (>90 degrees) is a significant indicator of severe coronary artery disease (CAD). This finding highlights the QRS-T angle

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Electrocardiography
  • Diagnostic Markers

Background:

  • Coronary artery disease (CAD) poses a significant global health burden.
  • Early detection and risk stratification are crucial for managing CAD.
  • The planar QRS-T angle is an electrocardiographic measurement that may correlate with cardiac pathology.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between an abnormal planar QRS-T angle (>90 degrees) and the severity of coronary artery disease.
  • To compare the prevalence of obstructive CAD in patients with elevated versus normal QRS-T angles.

Main Methods:

  • A cohort of 1,229 consecutive patients undergoing coronary angiography was analyzed.
  • Obstructive CAD was defined as >50% stenosis in at least one major coronary artery.
  • Planar QRS-T angles were measured from 12-lead ECGs by blinded, independent observers.

Main Results:

  • Patients with a planar QRS-T angle >90 degrees had a significantly higher prevalence of 2- or 3-vessel obstructive CAD (62%) compared to those with an angle <=90 degrees (34%) (p<0.0001).
  • The QRS-T angle was an independent risk factor for 2- or 3-vessel CAD (odds ratio = 7.2).
  • Other significant risk factors included age, male gender, unstable angina, positive stress test, hypertension, dyslipidemia, left bundle branch block, smoking, and obesity.

Conclusions:

  • An elevated planar QRS-T angle (>90 degrees) is strongly associated with a higher prevalence of significant obstructive coronary artery disease.
  • The QRS-T angle serves as a valuable, non-invasive marker for identifying patients at increased risk for severe CAD.
  • ECG-derived QRS-T angle measurement can aid in the risk stratification of patients with suspected or known coronary artery disease.
Abstract

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