title: Selvester scoring in patients with strict LBBB using the QUARESS software.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Estimation of the infarct size from body-surface ECGs in post-myocardial infarction patients has become possible using the Selvester scoring method. Automation of this scoring has been proposed in order to speed-up the measurement of the score and improving the inter-observer variability in computing a score that requires strong expertise in electrocardiography. In this work, we evaluated the quality of the QuAReSS software for delivering correct Selvester scoring in a set of standard 12-lead ECGs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Standard 12-lead ECGs were recorded in 105 post-MI patients prescribed implantation of an implantable cardiodefibrillator (ICD). Amongst the 105 patients with standard clinical left bundle branch block (LBBB) patterns, 67 had a LBBB pattern meeting the strict criteria. The QuAReSS software was applied to these 67 tracings by two independent groups of cardiologists (from a clinical group and an ECG core laboratory) to measure the Selvester score semi-automatically. Using various level of agreement metrics, we compared the scores between groups and when automatically measured by the software.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The average of the absolute difference in Selvester scores measured by the two independent groups was 1.4±1.5 score points, whereas the difference between automatic method and the two manual adjudications were 1.2±1.2 and 1.3±1.2 points. Eighty-two percent score agreement was observed between the two independent measurements when the difference of score was within two point ranges, while 90% and 84% score agreements were reached using the automatic method compared to the two manual adjudications.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study confirms that the QuAReSS software provides valid measurements of the Selvester score in patients with strict LBBB with minimal correction from cardiologists.
authors.affiliation: Heart Research Follow-Up Program, University of Rochester, NY, USA. Electronic address: heartjxx@heart.rochester.edu.
authors.forename: Xiaojuan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Xia
authors.affiliation: Arrhythmia clinic, Lund University, Skane University Hospital, Lund, Sweden.
authors.forename: Uzma
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Chaudhry
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Physiology, Karolinska Institute and Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Björn
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wieslander
authors.affiliation: Arrhythmia clinic, Lund University, Skane University Hospital, Lund, Sweden.
authors.forename: Rasmus
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Borgquist
authors.affiliation: Duke Clinical Research Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Galen S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Wagner
authors.affiliation: Office of Science and Engineering Laboratories, Center for Devices and Radiological Health, United States Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring MD, USA.
authors.forename: David G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Strauss
authors.affiliation: Arrhythmia clinic, Lund University, Skane University Hospital, Lund, Sweden.
authors.forename: Pyotr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Platonov
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Physiology, Karolinska Institute and Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ugander
authors.affiliation: Heart Research Follow-Up Program, University of Rochester, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Jean-Philippe
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Couderc
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D002037:Bundle-Branch Block / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003936:Diagnosis, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D015588:Observer Variation; D010363:Pattern Recognition, Automated / Q000379:methods; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012984:Software; D012986:Software Validation
keywords: Electrocardiography; Infarct size; Left bundle branch block; Myocardial infarction