Prognostic significance of the distortion of terminal portion of QRS complex on admission electrocardiogram in ST segment elevation myocardial infarction.

Background: ECG on admission has been used in predicting prognosis and risk stratification in ST segment elevation acute myocardial infarction (STEMI).

Objective: To analyze the admission ECG in STEMI based on abnormality observed in terminal portion of QRS and its correlation to hospital mortality.

Method: 160 consecutive patients of STEMI were classified into subjects without (Group I) and with distortion of terminal QRS (Group II), Pattern A--Emergence of J point at ≥50% of the R wave amplitude in leads with qR configuration or Pattern B--Absence of the S waves, in leads with Rs configuration in two consecutive leads.