A planar QRS-T angle >90 degrees is associated with multivessel coronary artery disease in patients undergoing coronary angiography.

BACKGROUND

The aim of the study was to investigate the severity of coronary artery disease (CAD) in patients who had a planar QRS-T angle >90 degrees versus <or=90 degrees.

MATERIAL/METHODS: Coronary angiography was performed in 1,229 consecutive patients. Obstructive CAD was diagnosed if there was >50% obstruction of >or=1 major coronary artery. All QRS-T angle measurements were made from a 12-lead electrocardiogram by 2 authors who agreed on the measurement and who were blinded to the coronary angiographic findings. A QRS-T angle >90 degrees was considered abnormal.

RESULTS

Obstructive CAD of 2 or 3 vessels was present in 309 of 495 patients (62%) with a planar QRS-T angle >90 degrees and in 250 of 734 patients (34%) with a planar QRS-T angle <or=90 degrees . (p<0.0001). Stepwise logistic regression analyses showed that significant independent risk factors for 2- or 3-vessel CAD were age (odds ratio =1.05), male gender (odds ratio =1.8), black race (odds ratio =0.34), unstable angina (odds ratio =0.16), positive stress test (odds ratio =3.0), hypertension (odds ratio =3.0), dyslipidemia (odds ratio =2.9), QRS-T angle (odds ratio =7.2), left bundle branch block (odds ratio =2.9), right bundle branch block (odds ratio =0.17), smoking (odds ratio =9.7), and body mass index >or=30 kg/m2 (odds ratio =1.5).

CONCLUSIONS

The prevalence of 2- or 3-vessel obstructive CAD was significantly higher in patients with a planar QRS-T angle >90 degrees than in patients with a planar QRS-T angle <or=90 degrees (p<0.0001).