title: Fragmented QRS is associated with frequency of premature ventricular contractions in patients without overt cardiac disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In this study, we aimed to demonstrate whether the presence of fragmented QRS (fQRS) is associated with the frequency of premature ventricular contractions (PVCs).
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively analyzed 282 cases by 24-hour Holter monitorings (HMs) between August 2012 and February 2013. Firstly, the patients were divided into 2 groups with respect to presence of fQRS and then divided into 3 groups with respect to frequency of PVCs as Group 1: seldom PVC (<120 PVCs/day), Group 2: moderate-frequency PVC (120-720 PVCs/day), and Group 3: frequent PVC (>720 PVCs/day). We investigated the predictors of frequent PVCs by using multinomial logistic regression analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ninety-eight patients had fQRS. There was no difference between the 2 groups with respect to body mass index, gender, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus. Patients with fQRS were older (54.9±15.6 vs. 47.0±16.3, p<0.001) and had more family history of coronary artery disease (25% vs. 13%, p=0.012). Patients with fQRS was more likely to be on aspirin therapy (28.6% vs. 10.4%, p<0.001) and have a larger left atrium diameter (33.5±5.7 vs. 30.4±5.8, p=0.001). Presence of fQRS was significantly associated with the frequency of PVCs (for frequent PVC 27.7% vs. 7.6%, p<0.001; for moderate-frequency PVC 18.4% vs. 11.4%, p=0.012); 26.2% of Group 1 (n=202) had fQRS, 46.2% of Group 2 (n=39) had fQRS, and 65.9% of Group 3 (n=41) had fQRS. In the multinomial regression analysis, only age (odds ratio: 4.24, 95% confidence interval 2.08-8.64, p=0.001) and fQRS (odds ratio: 2.11, 95% confidence interval 1.00-4.45, p=0.05) were predictors of frequent PVCs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study demonstrated that the presence of fQRS is associated with frequent PVCs in patients without overt structural heart disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine, Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University; Çanakkale-Turkey. drahmettemiz@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Ahmet
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Temiz
authors.forename: Emine
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gazi
authors.forename: Burak
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Altun
authors.forename: Ömer
authors.initials: Ö
authors.lastname: Güngör
authors.forename: Ahmet
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Barutçu
authors.forename: Adem
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bekler
authors.forename: Yusuf Ziya
authors.initials: YZ
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: Ali Ümit
authors.initials: AÜ
authors.lastname: Yener
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Saçar
authors.forename: Yücel
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Çölkesen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004562:Electrocardiography; D015716:Electrocardiography, Ambulatory; D005260:Female; D006329:Heart Conduction System; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000503:physiopathology*; D018879:Ventricular Premature Complexes / Q000503:physiopathology*