Electrocardiographic findings for predicting the left anterior descending artery chronic total occlusion in patients with inferior ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction.

In determining the culprit vessel responsible for inferior ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) as either the right coronary artery (RCA) or left circumflex (LCX), the electrocardiographic value has been validated. However, its ability to predict whether inferior STEMI is complicated by left anterior descending artery (LAD) chronic total occlusion remains uncertain. Based on the involvement of arteries other than the culprit vessels, 189 patients with inferior STEMI from our chest pain center were categorized into four groups: LAD occlusion group (n = 20), LAD stenosis > 50% group (n = 116), normal LAD group (n = 27), and other vessel stenosis > 50% group (n = 26). All groups underwent coronary angiography within 24 h of admission, and electrocardiogram (ECG) and clinical data were retrospectively analyzed. In the LAD occlusion group, hypertension was significantly more prevalent (P = 0.015). Although there was a trend toward higher previous cerebral infarction and lower diabetes prevalence in the Normal LAD group, neither was statistically significant (P = 0.070 and P = 0.088). The LAD occlusion group demonstrated the highest serum N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) levels and the most reduced LVEF, with a higher susceptibility to cardiogenic shock (P < 0.01). This group also had a higher use of intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) and a greater occurrence of ventricular fibrillation or tachycardia compared to the other groups (P < 0.05). The QRS duration in lead V4 (QRS