Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41645070›Full record

ArticleBMC cardiovascular disorders2026

Electrocardiographic predictors of ventricular arrhythmic events in ICD recipients: signal beyond the left ventricular ejection fraction threshold.

Maysan Almegbel, Abdulmohsen Almusaad, Ali Mahmoud Alzammam, Razan Alzayer, Muneera AlTaweel

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Article in BMC cardiovascular disorders, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Maysan AlmegbelKing Abdulaziz Cardiac Center, King Abdulaziz Medical City, MNGHA, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Abdulmohsen AlmusaadKing Abdulaziz Cardiac Center, King Abdulaziz Medical City, MNGHA, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Ali Mahmoud AlzammamKing Abdulaziz Cardiac Center, King Abdulaziz Medical City, MNGHA, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Razan AlzayerKing Abdulaziz Cardiac Center, King Abdulaziz Medical City, MNGHA, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Muneera AlTaweelKing Abdullah International Medical Research Center (KAIMRC), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Taweelm@Mngha.med.sa.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND

objectivesSelection for implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) therapy based on left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) may miss at-risk patients with LVEF > 35%. We tested whether a simple electrocardiogram (ECG) burden adds discriminatory power for appropriate ICD therapy beyond clinical factors and LVEF.

methodsSingle-center retrospective cohort of 236 ICD recipients. Six routinely reported ECG abnormalities (heart rate > 75 bpm; QRS duration > 110 ms; obtuse QRS–T angle; delayed transition zone; prolonged QTc; prolonged Tp–Te) were prespecified, summed to form an ECG burden (0–6), and categorized as 0–1, 2–3, or ≥ 4 abnormalities. Logistic regression estimated odds ratios (OR) with 95% CIs for appropriate ICD therapy. Multivariable models included LVEF category (≤ 35% vs > 35%), ischemic vs non-ischemic cardiomyopathy, ICD indication (secondary vs primary prevention), and ECG burden category. Discrimination of the clinical + LVEF model with and without ECG burden was assessed using the AUC (C-statistic) and the DeLong test.

resultsMean age was 62.1 ± 16.2 years; 71% were male; 61% had ischemic cardiomyopathy; 72% underwent primary-prevention ICD implantation; and mean follow-up was 7.6 ± 2.9 years. Appropriate ICD therapy was delivered to 26/236 (11.0%) patients. A high ECG burden (≥ 4 abnormalities) was associated with appropriate ICD therapy after adjustment (OR 3.6, 95% CI 1.8–7.2; p < 0.001). Adding ECG burden to a clinical + LVEF model modestly improved discrimination in this cohort, with the AUC (C-statistic) from 0.67 to 0.72 (DeLong p = 0.01). Kaplan–Meier curves showed graded separation across ECG-burden categories (log-rank p < 0.001). Among patients with LVEF > 35%, therapy was observed more frequently in the high-burden group than in the low-burden group.

conclusionsIn this single-center retrospective cohort of ICD recipients, a higher ECG abnormality burden was associated with a higher risk of appropriate ICD therapy and modestly improved discrimination when added to a clinical + LVEF model. These findings are hypothesis-generating and warrant prospective, multicenter external validation using standardized ECG measurements before any clinical application.

Indexed as

Arrhythmias, CardiacDeath, Sudden, CardiacDefibrillators, ImplantableElectric CountershockElectrocardiographyStroke VolumeVentricular Function, LeftAgedFemaleHumansLogistic ModelsMaleMiddle AgedMultivariate AnalysisOdds RatioPredictive Value of TestsArrhythmiasCardiacDefibrillatorsElectrocardiographyImplantableLeft ventricular ejection fractionRisk Stratification

Identifiers

PMID41645070
PMCPMC12977698

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.