The /spl Delta/QT//spl Delta/HR index for coronary artery disease evidence

Repolarization phase is not yet a fully understood phenomenon, the most common method for evaluation of ventricular repolarization is a measurement of QT interval duration directly on electrocardiographic strips. This simple time interval is such a difficult parameter to measure because its value is affected by several physiological factors. In this study the authors propose an index, calculated as the variation of the QTm interval which is the interval measured from the onset of Q wave to the peak of the T wave, related to heart rate changes on trend series (/spl Delta/QT//spl Delta/HR). The /spl Delta/QT//spl Delta/HR index evaluated in the present study has proved to be a good parameter to discriminate Coronary Artery Disease patients from healthy subjects and could improve the sensitivity, specificity and predictive value of the stress test as a diagnosis and prognosis tool in Coronary Artery Disease patients.