Increased Frequency of Fragmented QRS in Patients with Severe Aortic Valve Stenosis

OBJECTIVE To investigate the presence of myocardial fibrosis determined by fragmented QRS in patients with severe aortic valve stenosis. SUBJECTS AND METHODS Eighty-seven consecutive patients with severe aortic valve stenosis and 83 age- and gender-matched control subjects were enrolled into this study. Severe aortic valve stenosis was defined as an aortic valve area <1 cm(2), a Vmax >4 m/s, or a mean gradient ≥40 mm Hg. Fragmented QRS was assessed using a 12-lead electrocardiogram. RESULTS Fragmented QRS was detected in 40 (46%) patients in the aortic valve stenosis group and in 15 (18%) control subjects (p < 0.001). In multivariate binary logistic regression analysis, the presence of aortic valve stenosis was the only independent factor associated with fragmented QRS (OR = 3.69; 95% CI 1.81-7.55, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION A higher frequency of fragmented QRS was detected in patients with severe aortic valve stenosis compared to controls.