Short-term repeatability of electrocardiographic spatial T-wave axis and QT interval

J Electrocardiol. 2005 Apr;38(2):139-47. doi: 10.1016/j.jelectrocard.2004.09.020.

Abstract

Although ventricular repolarization abnormalities reflect arrhythmic susceptibility, few reliable tools exist to identify their presence. We investigated the repeatability of the spatial T-wave axis and QT interval from standard 12-lead electrocardiograms in 63 asymptomatic volunteers. Certified technicians used a standardized protocol to digitally record 2 electrocardiograms per participant at each of 2 visits separated by 1 to 2 weeks. Absolute paired differences within and between visits were 0.19 degrees and 0.90 degrees for the T-wave axis and 1.08 and 1.55 milliseconds for the QT interval, respectively. The intraclass correlation coefficients for the T-wave axis and QT interval were 0.87 and 0.86, respectively. The impact of repeated measurements on the precision of the QT-interval measurements was evaluated for a hypothetical clinical trial aimed at detecting a drug-induced QT prolongation. We conclude that the spatial T-wave axis is as repeatable a measure of ventricular repolarization as the QT interval.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Electrocardiography* / methods
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Long QT Syndrome / diagnosis
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Models, Theoretical
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted