Onset heart rate of microvolt-level T-wave alternans provides clinical and prognostic value in nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy

Objectives This study was designed to determine the prognostic value of onset heart rate (OHR) in T-wave alternans (TWA) in patients with nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). Background One of the current major issues in DCM is to prevent sudden cardiac death (SCD). However, the value of the OHR of TWA as a prognostic indicator in DCM remains to be elucidated. Methods We prospectively investigated 104 patients with DCM undergoing TWA testing. The end point of this study was defined as SCD, documented sustained ventricular tachycardia/ventricular fibrillation. Relations between clinical parameters and subsequent outcome were evaluated. Results Forty-six patients presenting with TWA were assigned to one of the following two subgroups according to OHR for TWA of ≤100 beats/min: group A (n = 24) with OHR ≤100 beats/min and group B (n = 22) with 100 < OHR ≤ 110 beats/min. T-wave alternans was negative in 37 patients (group C) and indeterminate in 21 patients. The follow-up result comprised 83 patients with determined TWA. During a follow-up duration of 21 ± 14 months, there was a total of 12 arrhythmic events, nine of which included three SCDs in group A, two in group B and one in group C. The forward stepwise multivariate Cox hazard analysis revealed that TWA with an OHR ≤100 beats/min and left ventricular ejection fraction were independent predictors of these arrhythmic events (p = 0.0001 and P = 0.0152, respectively). Conclusions The OHR of TWA is of additional prognostic value in DCM.