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European Heart Journal 2000 21(4):275-283; doi:10.1053/euhj.1999.1748
Copyright © 2000 by the European Society of Cardiology.
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Optimizing the initial 12-lead electrocardiographic diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction

I.B.A Menowna,f1, G Mackenzieb and A.A.J Adgeya

a Regional Medical Cardiology Centre, Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast, N. Ireland, U.K.
b Centre For Medical Statistics, Keele University, England, U.K.

revised June 11, 1999; accepted June 16, 1999

Abstract

Aims The optimum definition of ST elevation for diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction, with respect to both the minimum height and the minimum numbers of leads, is unknown. Furthermore, only 50% of patients with acute myocardial infarction present with ST elevation. We thus quantified the sensitivity and specificity of different ST elevation criteria for diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction, and determined whether models incorporating multiple QRST features in addition to ST elevation, could improve detection of acute myocardial infarction.

Methods and Results The study population comprised 1190 subjects: 1041 consecutive patients presenting with chest pain (335 with acute myocardial infarction) and 149 controls without chest pain. Subjects were randomly divided into a training set (587) and a validation set (603). ECG prediction models for acute myocardial infarction incorporating different ST elevation criteria and/or additional QRST features (Q waves, ST depression, T wave inversion, bundle branch block, axes deviations, and left ventricular hypertrophy) were developed in training set patients using forward stepwise multiple logistic regression. Models were then prospectively tested in the validation set patients. The optimum ST elevation model (based on ≥1mm ST elevation in ≥1 inferior/lateral leads, or ≥2mm ST elevation in ≥1 anteroseptal leads) correctly classified 83·1% of subjects (55·8% sensitivity, 94·0% specificity). The choice of ST elevation definition had marked influence on the sensitivity (45·4–68·6%) and specificity (81·2–98·1%) for diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction. The addition of multiple QRST variables only marginally improved overall classification but did result in high specificity (92·6–96·1%).

Conclusion Different definitions of ‘significant’ ST elevation led to marked variations in sensitivity and specificity for diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction. Multiple QRST features in addition to ST elevation only marginally improved overall classification.

Key Words: Electrocardiography, diagnosis, myocardial infarction, modelling

f1 Correspondence: Dr I. B. A. Menown, Regional Medical Cardiology Centre, Royal Victoria Hospital, Grosvenor Road, Belfast BT12 6BA, N. Ireland, U.K.

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