Validation of QT dispersion algorithms and some clinical investigations

Two aspects of the problem of QT dispersion have been analyzed and studied: the development and the validation of different algorithms to identify the T-end in a single ECG lead, and the prognostic significance of the QT dispersion index in the 12 leads. Three different threshold algorithms have been studied, and the validation procedure has been performed using the well annotated CSE reference database. The two most used indices of QT dispersion have been considered: the difference between max and min QT duration and the standard deviation of the QT duration in the 12 leads. Preliminary clinical investigations have been performed considering three different groups in the ECG-ILSA database: healthy patients, patients with cardiac arrhythmia and with myocardial infarction. The results have shown lower QT dispersion indices in healthy subjects with respect to the other two groups.