Authors: Michel Haïssaguerre, and colleagues

Published in: New England Journal of Medicine, Volume 358, Issue 19, Pages 2016-2023 (May 8, 2008)

Publication Date: May 8, 2008

Abstract

Background: Early repolarization has been traditionally considered a benign electrocardiographic finding. However, its association with sudden cardiac arrest remains unclear.

Objective: To investigate the correlation between early repolarization and the risk of sudden cardiac arrest from idiopathic ventricular fibrillation.

Methods: Multicenter study comparing 206 survivors of cardiac arrest from idiopathic ventricular fibrillation with 412 matched controls without heart disease. Electrocardiographic analysis focused on early repolarization patterns.

Results: Early repolarization was significantly more prevalent in cardiac arrest survivors compared to controls (31% vs. 5%, P<0.001). Among patients with a history of idiopathic ventricular fibrillation, those with early repolarization demonstrated increased risk for recurrent ventricular fibrillation (hazard ratio, 2.1; 95% confidence interval, 1.2 to 3.5; P=0.008).

Conclusion: Early repolarization is significantly associated with sudden cardiac arrest in patients with idiopathic ventricular fibrillation, challenging the previous assumption that early repolarization is benign. This finding has important implications for risk stratification and potentially preventive interventions.

Links:
• PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18463377/
• DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa071968
• Journal: New England Journal of Medicine