Ambulatory electrocardiogram-based tracking of T wave alternans in postmyocardial infarction patients to assess risk of cardiac arrest or arrhythmic death.

INTRODUCTION: This is the first study to assess T wave alternans (TWA) analyzed from routine ambulatory electrocardiograms (AECGs) to identify postmyocardial infarction (post-MI) patients at increased risk for arrhythmic events.

METHODS AND RESULTS: The new method of modified moving average (MMA) analysis was used to measure TWA magnitude in 24-hour AECGs from ATRAMI, a prospective study of 1,284 post-MI patients. Using a nested case-control approach, we defined cases as patients who experienced cardiac arrest due to documented ventricular fibrillation or arrhythmic death during the follow-up period of 21 +/- 8 months. We analyzed 15 cases and 29 controls matched for sex, age, site of MI, left ventricular ejection fraction, thrombolysis, and beta-blockade therapy. TWA was reported as the maximum 15-second value at three predetermined times associated with cardiovascular stress: maximum heart rate, 8:00 A.M., and maximum ST segment deviation. TWA increased significantly from baseline in both leads at each time point (P <0.01) in cases and controls. TWA in V5 increased more in cases than controls during peak heart rate (P = 0.005) and at 8:00 A.M. (P = 0.02). A 4- to 7-fold higher odds of life-threatening arrhythmias was predicted by TWA level above the 75th percentile during maximum heart rate in leads V1 (odds ratio [OR] 4.2, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.1-16.3, P = 0.04) and V5 (OR 7.9, 95% CI: 1.9-33.1, P = 0.005). TWA at 8:00 A.M. also predicted risk in leads V1 (OR = 5.0, 95% CI: 1.2-20.5, P = 0.02) and V5 (OR = 4.2, 95% CI: 1.1-16.3, P = 0.04).

CONCLUSION: TWA measurement from routine 24-hour AECGs is a promising approach for risk stratification for cardiac arrest and arrhythmic death in relatively low-risk post-MI patients.