A Novel Electrocardiographic Index for the Diagnosis of Diastolic Dysfunction

Background: Although the assessment of diastolic dysfunction (DD) is an integral part of routine cardiologic examinations, little is known about associated electrocardiographic (ECG) changes. Our aim was to investigate a potential role of ECG indices for the recognition of patients with DD.

Methods And Results: ECG parameters correlating with echocardiographic findings of DD were retrospectively assessed in a derivation group of 172 individuals (83 controls with normal diastolic function, 89 patients with DD) and their diagnostic performance was tested in a validation group of 50 controls and 50 patients. The patient group with a DD Grade 1 and 2 showed longer QTc (422 ± 24 ms and 434 ± 32 ms vs. 409 ± 25ms, p<0.0005) and shorter Tend-P and Tend-Q intervals, reflecting the electrical and mechanical diastole (240 ± 78 ms and 276 ± 108 ms vs. 373 ± 110 ms, p<0.0001; 409 ± 85 ms and 447 ± 115 ms vs. 526 ± 119 ms, p<0.0001). The PQ-interval was significantly longer in the patient group (169 ± 28ms and 171 ± 38ms vs. 153 ± 22ms, p<0.005). After adjusting for possible confounders, a novel index (Tend-P/[PQxAge]) showed a high performance for the recognition of DD, stayed robust in the validation group (sensitivity 82%, specificity 93%, positive predictive value 93%, negative predictive value 82%, accuracy 88%) and proved a substantial added value when combined with the indexed left atrial volume (LAESVI, sensitivity 90%, specificity 92%, positive predictive value 95%, negative predictive value 86%, accuracy 91%).

Conclusions: A novel electrocardiographic index Tend-P/(PQxAge) demonstrates a high diagnostic accuracy for the diagnosis of DD and yields a substantial added value when combined with the LAESVI.