Value of pathologic Q wave in surface electrocardiography in the prediction of myocardial nonviability: A cardiac magnetic resonance imaging-based study

In surface electrocardiography (ECG), Q wave is often considered as a sign of irreversibly scarred myocardium. Cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging is an accurate mean for the detection of myocardial viability. Herein, we study the predictive value of Q wave in nonviable (scarred) myocardium by CMR study. Retrospective analysis of the ECG and CMR data of 35 coronary artery disease patients was performed. The delayed enhancement CMR protocol was used for the detection of viability. The presence of a pathologic Q wave in surface ECG was negatively related to myocardial viability with a kappa measurement of agreement of −0.544 and P < 0.0001. Pathologic Q wave in surface ECG can be used as a simple tool for myocardial viability prediction.