Diagnostic and prognostic value of ST-segment deviation scores in suspected acute myocardial infarction. Issue 8 (December 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Grimm, Karin; Twerenbold, Raphael; Abaecherli, Roger; Boeddinghaus, Jasper; Nestelberger, Thomas; Koechlin, Luca; Troester, Valentina; Bourtzou, Anna; Keller, Dagmar I; Geigy, Nicolas; Kozhuharov, Nikola; Wussler, Desiree; Wildi, Karin; Hillinger, Petra; Rubini Giménez, Maria; Strebel, Ivo; Badertscher, Patrick; Puelacher, Christian; du Fay de Lavallaz, Jeanne; Osswald, Luca; Morawiec, Beata; Kawecki, Damian; Miró, Òscar; Kühne, Michael; Reichlin, Tobias; Mueller, Christian
• Is Part Of: European heart journal. Volume 9:Issue 8(2020)
• Page Start: 857
• Page End: 868
• Publication Date: 2020-12
• Subjects: Acute coronary syndrome -- electrocardiogram -- ST-segment deviation; 616.1205
• DOI: 10.1177/2048872619853579
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2048-8726

Abstract

Background: Recent advances in digital electrocardiography technology allow evaluating ST-segment deviations in all 12 leads as quantitative variables and calculating summed ST-segment deviation scores. The diagnostic and prognostic utility of summed ST-segment deviation scores is largely unknown. Methods: We aimed to explore the diagnostic and prognostic utility of the conventional and the modified ST-segment deviation score (Better Analysis of ST-segment Elevations and Depressions in a 12- Lead-ECG-Score (BASEL-Score): sum of elevations in the augmented voltage right - lead (aVR) plus absolute, unsigned ST-segment depressions in the remaining leads) in patients presenting with suspected non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction. The diagnostic endpoint was non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction, adjudicated by two independent cardiologists. Prognostic endpoint was mortality during two-year follow up. Results: Among 1330 patients, non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction was present in 200 (15%) patients. Diagnostic accuracy for non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction as quantified by the area under the receiver-operating-characteristics curve was significantly higher for the BASEL-Score (0.73; 95% confidence interval 0.69–0.77) as compared to the conventional ST-segment deviation score (0.53; 95% confidence interval 0.49–0.57, p <0.001). The BASEL-Score provided additional independent diagnostic value to dichotomous electrocardiogram variables (ST-segment depression, T-inversion, both p <0.001) and to high-sensitivity cardiac troponin ( p <0.001) as well as clinical judgment at 90 min ( p <0.001). Similarly, only the BASEL-Score proved to be an independent predictor of two year mortality. Conclusions: The modified ST-segment deviation score BASEL-Score focusing on ST-segment elevation in aVR and ST-segment depressions in the remaining leads provides incremental diagnostic and prognostic information.