Prognostic value of admission ECG findings for estimation of in-hospital course in acute heart failure patients

Abstract

Acute heart failure is a high prevalence disease with significant mortality and unfortunate outcomes. Therefore, it is necessary to recognize patients in higher risk for such outcomes in order to guide treatment. Some risk stratification models have been designed and published. Current study aims to investigate ECG findings in estimation of in-hospital outcomes of acute heart failure patients. Methods: In this cross-sectional study conducted on 150 consecutive patient admitted with acute heart failure in Shahid Madani hospital in Tabriz, clinical data including age, gender, heart failure cause, underlying diseases, medications, laboratory findings, echocardiography and admission ECG findings as well as in-hospital outcomes was gathered. Results: ECG findings including low precordial voltage, wide QRS, ventricular tachycardia, left bundle branch block, long QT, atrial fibrillation, premature atrial contraction and QRS-T Angle were found to be significantly associated with in-hospital mortality, need for inotrope therapy, mechanical ventilation, worsening renal function and need for emergent dialysis. None of the studied ECG finding were suitable for estimating number of admission days in our study.