Table 1.
Baseline Characteristics, Electrocardiographic, Echocardiographic Parameters, and CT Findings of Study Population
| All Patients | fQRS(+) | fQRS(−) | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Variables | (n = 249) | (n = 39) | (n = 210) | P Value |
| Age | 66.0 ± 16.0 | 65.6 ± 15.9 | 66.1 ± 16.1 | 0.875 |
| Gender, female, n (%) | 155 (62.2%) | 26(66.7%) | 129 (61.4%) | 0.333 |
| Hypertension, n (%) | 103 (41.4%) | 13 (33.3%) | 90 (42.9%) | 0.176 |
| Hyperlipidemia, n (%) | 64 (25.7%) | 7 (17.9%) | 57 (27.1%) | 0.157 |
| Smoking, n (%) | 91 (36.5%) | 16 (41.0%) | 75 (35.7%) | 0.323 |
| Diabetes mellitus, n (%) | 86 (34.5%) | 10 (25.6%) | 76 (36.2%) | 0.137 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease | 31 (12.4%) | 6 (15.4%) | 25 (11.9%) | 0.352 |
| BMI, kg/m2 | 23.8 ± 3.1 | 23.9 ± 3.2 | 23.9 ± 3.1 | 0.256 |
| Immobilization >3 days, n (%) | 52 (20.9%) | 9 (23.1%) | 43 (20.5%) | 0.428 |
| Neoplasm, n (%) | 22 (8.8%) | 4 (10.3%) | 18 (8.6%) | 0.463 |
| Oral contraception, pregnancy, n (%) | 14 (5.6%) | 2 (5.1%) | 12 (5.7%) | 0.620 |
| Deep venous thrombosis | 84 (33.7%) | 16 (41.0%) | 68 (32.4%) | 0.193 |
| Clinical presentation | ||||
| Dispnea, n (%) | 234 (94.0%) | 36 (92.3%) | 198 (94.3%) | 0.634 |
| Angina, n (%) | 78 (31.3%) | 13(33.3%) | 65 (31.0%) | 0.768 |
| Palpitation, n (%) | 85 (34.1%) | 71 (33.8%) | 14 (35.9%) | 0.801 |
| Hemoptysis, n (%) | 8 (3.2%) | 1 (2.6%) | 7 (3.3%) | 0.636 |
| Syncope, n (%) | 22 (8.8%) | 7 (17.9%) | 15 (7.1%) | 0.038 |
| Elevated cTnI | 115 (46.2%) | 26 (66.7%) | 89 (42.4%) | 0.005 |
| Functional status | ||||
| NYHA class III–IV, n (%) | 35 (14.1%) | 10 (25.6%) | 25 (11.9%) | 0.027 |
| sPESI score ≥1, n (%) | 51 (20.5%) | 14(35.9%) | 37(17.6%) | 0.009 |
| Risk categorization | ||||
| Low risk, n (%) | 198 (79.5%) | 25(64.1%) | 173(82.4%) | 0.009 |
| Intermediate risk, n (%) | 38 (15.3%) | 11(28.2%) | 27(12.9%) | 0.014 |
| High risk, n (%) | 16 (6.4%) | 6 (15.4%) | 10(4.8%) | 0.013 |
| Acute pharmacological treatment | ||||
| Thrombolytic therapy, n (%) | 19 (7.6%) | 7 (17.9%) | 12 (5.7%) | 0.008 |
| Unfractioned heparin, n (%) | 42(16.9%) | 8(20.5%) | 34(16.2%) | 0.508 |
| Low molecular weight heparin, n (%) | 197(79.1%) | 28(71.8%) | 169(80.5%) | 0.221 |
| Electrocardiographic parameters | ||||
| Atrial fibrillation | 41 (16.7%) | 6 (15.4%) | 35 (16.9%) | 0.541 |
| Duration of PR interval | 156.3 ± 48.9 | 158.5 ± 49.3 | 153.8 ± 49.0 | 0.676 |
| Duration of QRS interval | 108.9 ± 37.3 | 112 ± 39.5 | 102.0 ± 33.8 | 0.105 |
| Duration of QTc interval | 421.0 ± 46.2 | 426.2 ± 48.7 | 415 ± 42.8 | 0.265 |
| RBBB | 46 (18.7%) | 12 (30.8%) | 34 (16.4%) | 0.034 |
| S1Q3T3 sign | 50 (20.3%) | 14 (35.9%) | 36 (17.4%) | 0.008 |
| Right axis deviation | 18 (7.2%) | 6 (15.4%) | 12 (5.7%) | 0.032 |
| Echocardiographic parameters | ||||
| LVEF,% | 55.6 ± 9.8 | 54.7 ± 9.2 | 56.3 ± 9.4 | 0.106 |
| sPAB (mmHg) | 43±21 | 44±22 | 42 ± 21 | 0.114 |
| TAPSE | 1.7 ± 0.6 | 1.6 ± 0.5 | 1.7 ± 0.6 | 0.026 |
| McConnell's sign | 23 (9.2%) | 7 (17.9%) | 16 (7.6%) | 0.041 |
| CT findings | ||||
| RVEDD (mm) | 46 ± 11 | 47 ± 12 | 45 ± 11 | 0.046 |
| RV/LV ratio | 0.93 ± 0.36 | 0.98 ± 0.38 | 0.91 ± 0.36 | 0.019 |
| Leftward shifting of the IVS | 37 (14.9%) | 11 (28.2%) | 26 (12.4%) | 0.011 |
| RV dysfunction | 43 (17.3%) | 12(30.8%) | 31 ((14.8%) | 0.015 |
Bold text indicates a statistically significant difference with a P value less than 0.05.
BMI = body mass index; CT = computed tomography; cTnI = cardiac troponin I; fQRS = fragmented QRS; IVS = interventricular septum; LV = left ventricle; LVEF = left ventricular ejection fraction; NYHA = New York Heart Association; RBBB = right bundle branch blocker; RV = right ventricle; RVEDD = right ventricular end‐diastolic diameter; sPAB = systolic pulmonary artery pressure; TAPSE = tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion.