Background: In patients with non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndromes (NSTE-ACS), identification of left main and/or 3-vessel disease (LM/3VD) is crucial for deciding whether to initiate early treatment with clopidogrel, which can increase the risk of surgical bleeding.
Methods and results: On admission, the clinical factors of 501 patients with NSTE-ACS, who underwent coronary angiography, were evaluated. ST-segment shifts and the widest QRS duration were measured on an admission 12-lead electrocardiogram. Ninety-six patients had LM/3VD. Univariate analysis indicated that many factors were related to LM/3VD. On multivariate analysis, QRS duration (odds ratio (OR) 9.04, P<0.01), the degree of ST-segment elevation in lead aVR (OR 7.10, P<0.01), and positive-troponin T (OR 1.52, P<0.05) were independent predictors of LM/3VD. A QRS duration of >90 ms and a ST-segment elevation in lead aVR of >or=0.5 mm best identified LM/3VD. A QRS duration of >90 ms, a ST-segment elevation in lead aVR of >or=0.5 mm, and a positive-troponin T identified LM/3VD with sensitivities of 88%, 76%, and 54% (P<0.01), and specificities of 88%, 86%, and 71% (P<0.01), respectively.
Conclusions: A prolonged QRS duration, ST-segment elevation in lead aVR, and a positive-troponin T on admission are useful predictors of LM/3VD in patients with NSTE-ACS. In particular, a maximal QRS duration of >90 ms was the most sensitive predictor of LM/3VD.