Diagnosis and mortality prediction in pulmonary hypertension: the value of the electrocardiogram-derived ventricular gradient

Scherptong, Roderick W.C.
Henkens, Ivo R.
Kapel, Gijs F.L.
Swenne, Cees A.
van Kralingen, Klaas W.
Huisman, Menno V.
Schuerwegh, Annemie J.M.
Bax, Jeroen J.
van der Wall, Ernst E.
Schalij, Martin J.
Vliegen, Hubert W.

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Publication date

June 2012

DOI

10.1016/j.jelectrocard.2011.12.001

Publisher

Elsevier Inc.

ISSN

0022-0736

Citation count (estimate)

Abstract

AbstractPurposeThe aim of this study was to investigate the use of the electrocardiogram-derived ventricular gradient, projected on the x-axis (VGx), for detection of pulmonary hypertension (PH) and for prediction of all-cause mortality in PH patients.MethodsIn patients referred for PH screening (n = 216), the VGx was calculated semiautomatically from the electrocardiogram and was defined as abnormal when less than 24 mV·ms. The VGx of PH patients was compared with the VGx of patients without PH. The association between a reduced VGx and mortality was investigated in PH patients.ResultsPatients with PH (n = 117) had a significantly reduced VGx: 14 ± 27 vs 45 ± 23 mV·ms, P < .001. Furthermore, a severely reduced VGx (<0 mV·ms) was associated...