(Chest. 2001;120:834-839.)
© 2001
American College of Chest Physicians
Diagnostic and Prognostic Value of Holter-Detected ST-Segment Deviation in Unselected Patients With Chest Pain Referred for Coronary Angiography*
A Long-term Follow-up Analysis
Chandra K. Nair, MD, FCCP;
Ijaz A. Khan, MD;
Dennis J. Esterbrooks, MD;
Kay L. Ryschon, MS and
Daniel E. Hilleman, PharmD
*
From the Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Creighton University School of Medicine, Omaha, NE.
Correspondence to: Chandra K. Nair, MD, FCCP, Creighton University Cardiac Center, 3006 Webster St, Omaha, NE 68131
 |
Abstract
|
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Objective: To evaluate the diagnostic and prognostic
significance of ST-segment deviation detected by ambulatory Holter
monitoring in unselected chest pain patients referred for coronary
angiography.
Methods: Two hundred seventy-seven
patients (71% were men) who underwent coronary angiography for
evaluation of chest pain were studied with 24-h ambulatory Holter
monitoring within 72 h of angiography. A lumen diameter reduction
of
50% was considered coronary artery disease. The ST-segment
deviation was defined as
1-mm deviation from the baseline lasting
1 min separated by a minimum of 1 min. The patients were followed
up for 65 ± 21 months (mean ± SD) for occurrences of death,
myocardial infarction, hospitalization for unstable angina, and need
for revascularization.
Results: Of the 277 patients,
223 (80%) had coronary artery disease. The prevalence of coronary
artery disease was not significantly different in patients with (43 of
48 patients; 90%) and without (180 of 229 patients; 79%)
Holter-detected ST-segment deviation. The diagnostic accuracy of
Holter-detected ST-segment deviation in predicting the presence of
coronary artery disease was poor (33%), with a sensitivity of 19% and
a specificity of 91%. The presence of Holter-detected ST-segment
deviation was not predictive of future cardiac events or death.
Conclusion: The ST-segment changes detected on ambulatory
Holter monitoring are of limited value in identifying coronary artery
disease and predicting the future adverse cardiac events or death in
unselected patients with chest pain.
Key Words: ambulatory ECG monitoring coronary artery disease diagnostic accuracy ECG Holter monitoring ischemic heart disease sensitivity silent ischemia specificity ST segment
 |
Introduction
|
|---|
The
ST-segment deviation detected by ambulatory ECG monitoring correlates
well with the other objective measures used to define myocardial
ischemia in patients with known coronary artery
disease.1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
The presence of ST-segment deviation during
ambulatory ECG (Holter) monitoring in selected patients with stable
angina pectoris, unstable angina, myocardial infarction, and aborted
sudden cardiac death is also predictive of future cardiac
events.9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
However, limited data are available regarding
the diagnostic and prognostic value of the Holter-detected ST-segment
deviation in the unselected patients with chest pain referred for
coronary angiography. Similarly, the diagnostic
significance of the ST-segment deviation detected by ambulatory ECG
monitoring is unknown in patients with baseline ST-segment changes
known to affect ST-T wave interpretation, whereas exercise-induced
ST-segment deviation is known to have a lower diagnostic yield in these
patients.16
In this study, the diagnostic and prognostic significance of
Holter-detected ST-segment deviation in unselected patients with chest
pain referred for coronary angiography was determined, and was
correlated with the extent and severity of coronary artery disease. The
diagnostic and prognostic significance of Holter-detected ST-segment
deviation was also compared between patients with baseline ST-segment
changes known to affect ST-T wave interpretation and those without such
changes.
 |
Materials and Methods
|
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Patient Population
Two hundred seventy-seven consecutive patients with chest pain
referred for coronary angiography at the Creighton University Medical
Center were enrolled in this prospective study. All patients were
characterized according to age, gender, history of myocardial
infarction, previous revascularization procedures, standard risk factor
assessment, concomitant disease status, drug therapy, and angina
history. Patients were instructed to continue taking all of their
medications, including digoxin and antianginal medications, during
ambulatory ECG monitoring.
Study Protocol
The study was approved by the Institutional Review Board for
Human Subjects Research of the Creighton University, and written
informed consent was obtained from all participants. All study
participants underwent continuous 24-h ambulatory ECG monitoring within
72 h after the coronary angiography.
Coronary Angiography:
Coronary angiography was performed
using the Judkins approach. Multiple coronary angiograms were made in
a variety of projections to ensure the lesion visibility and accuracy.
Coronary stenosis was assessed visually and interpreted by two
observers unaware of the results of the ambulatory ECG recordings.
Significant coronary stenosis was defined as a decrease in lumen
diameter of
50% in one or more of the major epicardial coronary
arteries or their primary branches.
Ambulatory Monitoring:
Continuous 24-h ambulatory ECG
recordings were made on new ferrous oxide tapes using time-coded,
reel-to-reel recorders (model 447; Delmar Avionics; Irvine, CA).
The frequency range from these amplitude-modified recorders was 0.05 to
100 Hz. Calibration was accomplished with 1-mV and 0.1-mV square waves
using a multiphase calibrator simulating the ECG QRS-complex. A
two-lead system (modified lead II and V5) was used with
meticulous skin preparation. Electrode sites were verified for lead
placement and signal amplitude using a transtelephonic modulator
transmitter. Subjects kept a detailed diary of the activities performed
and symptoms experienced during the 24-h monitoring period. Ambulatory
ECG recordings were reviewed using a Cardio-Data Prodigy Scanner
(Mortara Instrument; Milwaukee, WI) at 120 times real time.
Significant ST-segment depression or elevation was defined as
1 mm
ST-segment deviation occurring 80 ms after the J point, lasting for
60 s. The episodes of ST-segment deviation agreed on by two
reviewers were considered as significant. Separation of one episode
from another required that the ECG return to baseline for a minimum of
1 min. The total number of the ST-segment deviations and the total
duration of the episodes were determined for each patient. The heart
rates at the onset and at the time of maximal ST-segment deviation were
recorded for each individual episode. The physicians performing ECG
analyses were blinded to the coronary angiographic findings and
clinical characteristics of the patients.
Follow-up:
Patients were prospectively followed up for a
mean ± SD of 65 ± 21 months from the time of initial monitoring
for occurrences of death, nonfatal myocardial infarction,
hospitalization for unstable angina, and need for revascularization
with coronary artery bypass graft surgery, percutaneous transluminal
coronary angioplasty, or any other transcatheter revascularization
procedure. Hospital records, outpatient clinic records, and patient,
family or primary physicians interviews were used for confirmation of
the events. Deaths were classified as cardiac or noncardiac. Myocardial
infarction was diagnosed if two of the following three prospectively
defined criteria were met: (1) ischemic type chest pain with
duration > 20 min; (2) a diagnostic ECG, which consisted of
ST-segment elevation of
1 mm in two or more anatomically contiguous
leads or development of new left bundle branch block; (3) serum
creatine kinase-MB level of > 5 ng/mL with a creatine kinase-MB
relative index of > 2.5% in two consecutive serum samples. Unstable
angina was diagnosed if ischemic type chest pain lasted for > 20 min
in absence of the ECG or enzyme changes consistent with myocardial
infarction.
Statistical Analysis
Data were presented as mean ± SD where appropriate. A
statistical probability of < 0.05 was considered significant. The
diagnostic accuracy of the ST-segment deviation was examined for all
patients and for subgroups of patients with and without baseline
ST-segment changes. The prognostic value of the ST-segment deviation
was examined for all patients, Comparisons of the groups with and
without ST-segment deviation were performed using the Students
t test or Pearsons
2 where
appropriate. All p values were corrected for multiple comparisons where
appropriate. The diagnostic value of the presence of the ST-segment
deviation for the detection of coronary artery disease was evaluated by
calculation of sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative
predictive values, and diagnostic accuracy. The following calculations
were used: sensitivity
(%) = 100 x (true-positives)/(true-positives + false-negatives);
specificity
(%) = 100 x (true-negative)/(true-negatives + false-positives);
positive predictive value
(%) = 100 x (true-positives)/(true-positives + false-positives);
and negative predictive value
(%) = 100 x (true-negatives)/(true-negatives + false-negatives);
and diagnostic accuracy
(%) = 100 x (true-positives + true-negatives/total number of
tests). All the statistical analyses were performed using computer
software (SPSS version 7.0; SPSS; Chicago, IL).
 |
Results
|
|---|
Clinical Characteristics
The study group consisted of 277 patients (196 men), with a mean
age of 63 ± 10 years (range, 32 to 84 years). Clinical
characteristics of the patients with and without ST-segment deviation
during Holter monitoring are summarized in Table 1
. The distribution of baseline characteristics was not different between
the two study groups. Seventy-one patients had preexisting conditions
affecting the ST segment; 44 patients were receiving digoxin, 1 patient
had complete left bundle-branch block, 8 patients had left ventricular
hypertrophy, 6 patients had permanent pacemakers implanted, and 12
patients had one or more of the above.
Angiographic Findings
Two hundred twenty-three patients (80%) had at least one vessel
with
50% obstruction, and 54 patients (20%) had no significant
coronary obstruction. Single-vessel, double-vessel, and triple-vessel
disease was present in 92 patients (33%), 59 patients (21%), and 72
patients (26%), respectively. The prevalence of coronary artery
disease in patients with ST-segment deviation was not significantly
different than that in patients without ST-segment deviation (43 of 48
patients [90%] vs 180 of 229 patients [79%]; p = not
significant [NS]). Similarly, there was no significant difference in
the single-vessel, double-vessel, and triple-vessel disease between
groups (Table 2 ).
Ambulatory Holter ECG Findings
Forty-eight patients (17%) had one or more episodes of ST-segment
deviation with a total of 120 episodes. Thirty-four patients had 90
episodes of ST-segment depression, and 17 patients had 30 episodes of
ST segment elevation. The average duration of episodes of ST depression
was 42 ± 60 min (range, 1 to 272 min). The magnitude of ST-segment
depression ranged from 1.0 to 4.2 mm (mean, 2.0 ± 0.8 mm), and it
was
1 mm in 21 patients and
2 mm in 13 patients. The average
duration of ST-segment elevation episodes was 17 ± 21 min (range,
2.5 to 75.5 min). Magnitude of ST-segment elevation ranged from 1.0 to
6.0 mm (mean, 2.1 ± 1.5 mm).
Diagnostic Accuracy of Holter-Detected ST-Segment Deviation
The diagnostic accuracy of the ST-segment deviation detected by
the ambulatory ECG monitoring in predicting the presence of coronary
artery disease for all patients is given in Table 3 , and in patients with or without baseline ST-segment abnormalities in
Table 4
. Of the 223 patients with coronary artery disease, 43 patients (24%)
had ST-segment changes. Of the 54 patients without coronary artery
disease, 5 patients (10%) had ST-segment changes. Correlation of the
Holter-detected ST-segment deviation and the severity and location of
obstructed coronary arteries is shown in Table 5
.
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[in this window]
[in a new window]
|
Table 3. Diagnostic Accuracy of Holter-Detected ST-Segment
Changes for Predicting Coronary Artery Disease in all
Patients*
|
|
View this table:
[in this window]
[in a new window]
|
Table 4. Diagnostic Accuracy of Holter-Detected ST-Segment
Changes for Predicting Coronary Disease in Patients With vs Without
Baseline ST-Segment Changes*
|
|
View this table:
[in this window]
[in a new window]
|
Table 5. Correlation of Holter-Detected ST-Segment Changes
With Severity of Disease and Coronary Artery
Involved*
|
|
Prognostic Value of Holter-Detected ST-Segment Deviation
Presence of any ST-segment deviation (depression or elevation) was
not significantly correlated with the future cardiac events or death
(Table 6
). During a mean follow-up of 65 ± 21 months, the incidence of
cardiac events (cardiac death, nonfatal myocardial infarctions,
hospitalization for unstable angina, and need for revascularization)
was similar in patients with and without ST-segment deviation, and was
not a function of presence or absence of baseline ST-segment
abnormalities.
View this table:
[in this window]
[in a new window]
|
Table 6. Correlation of Presence or Absence of Holter-Detected
ST-Segment Changes With Adverse Cardiovascular
Outcomes*
|
|
 |
Discussion
|
|---|
Experience with ambulatory ECG monitoring for myocardial ischemia
has been associated with a highly variable sensitivity and specificity
for the detection of coronary artery disease.1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
The
ST-segment changes consistent with ischemia have been observed during
ambulatory ECG monitoring in 18 to 59% of the patients with known
coronary artery disease, and have generally correlated well with the
other objective tests used to detect myocardial
ischemia.13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
The highest prevalence of ambulatory ECG
monitoring detected ST-segment changes have been reported in patients
with multivessel disease, unstable angina, or a recent myocardial
infarction.22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
However, the diagnostic accuracy of the
exercise stress testing in the patients with coronary artery disease is
significantly greater than that observed with the ambulatory ECG
monitoring.17
The sensitivity of the ambulatory ECG
monitoring-detected ST-segment changes for detection of myocardial
ischemia is low even in patients with triple-vessel or left main
coronary artery disease. Presumably, this is because these patients are
relatively inactive to avoid angina, and so their heart rates (and
double products) are relatively low. This is undoubtedly a major
limitation of ambulatory ECG monitoring as opposed to exercise stress
testing in detecting myocardial ischemia.
The prevalence of the ST-segment changes detected during the ambulatory
ECG monitoring in our patients with coronary artery disease was 24%.
Although the specificities were high, the sensitivities and diagnostic
accuracy of the ST-segment change during ambulatory ECG monitoring in
our population were poor. This is generally consistent with other
published reports.12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
In our study, however, the
presence of multivessel disease, unstable angina, or myocardial
infarction was not associated with a higher prevalence of ambulatory
ECG monitoring detected ST-segment changes, and ambulatory ECG
monitoring also failed to predict the severity and location of the
coronary artery stenosis, which is in discrepancy with some other
published reports.12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
These discrepancies between the
results of our study and with other published reports may be due to the
fact that our patient population consisted of unselected patients of
chest pain.
Despite the relatively poor and erratic diagnostic value of the
ambulatory ECG monitoring, the presence of the Holter-detected
ST-segment changes in certain patient populations is highly predictive
of future adverse cardiac events. In patients with stable angina,
ST-segment changes detected by ambulatory ECG monitoring is an
independent predictor of the adverse clinical events including death,
myocardial infarction, and revascularization.12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
In
addition, the ambulatory ECG monitoring provides prognostic information
additional to that derived from the established parameters obtained
during exercise testing.13
18
29
Ischemia detected by the
ambulatory ECG monitoring in patients with unstable angina or
myocardial infarction has also been shown to be predictive of the
future adverse clinical outcomes.25
26
27
28
29
However, the
presence of ST-segment changes in our population was not predictive of
future adverse clinical outcomes. We believe this occurred as our
population consisted of unselected patients with chest pain.
 |
Conclusion
|
|---|
The ST-segment changes detected on ambulatory ECG monitoring in
unselected patients with chest pain are of limited value in identifying
the coronary artery disease and predicting the future adverse cardiac
events including death, myocardial infarction, need for hospitalization
for unstable angina, and revascularization.
 |
Footnotes
|
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Abbreviation: NS = not significant
Received for publication December 4, 2000.
Accepted for publication March 21, 2001.
 |
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