Christoffer Polcwiartek - Postdoctoral Fellowship 2021

Project summary:
Improving response to CRT pacing by using novel ECG markers of ventricular dyssynchrony

Patients with heart failure and ventricular dyssynchrony such as left bundle branch block (LBBB) have a poor prognosis. Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) improves long-term outcomes among these patients, but approximately 20-30 % of patients do not respond to therapy. Therefore, this research project aims to utilize novel ECG markers of ventricular dyssynchrony to improve response to CRT pacing and risk stratification of patients with LBBB.

Project Title

Improving response to CRT pacing by using novel ECG markers of ventricular dyssynchrony

Background

Outcomes of heart failure (HF) are poor, with only 50% of patients being alive 5 years following HF diagnosis.

Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) improves long-term prognosis in patients with systolic HF and QRS prolongation on the electrocardiogram (ECG) caused by left bundle branch block (LBBB). However, a large minority (20-30%) of patients meeting contemporary CRT criteria do not respond to therapy.

Aim

To prevent future HF development by improving response to CRT and early identification of high-risk patients with LBBB.

Methods

Novel ECG parameters such as vectorcardiographic QRS area will be used to investigate the incidence and long-term prediction of HF development in LBBB patients. By using the ECG, 3D modelling of the heart will be used to assess delay in left ventricular wall activation and wavefront propagation.

Christoffer Polcwiartek

  • MD, PhD
  • Aalborg University Hospital, Department of Cardiology

Mentors:

Claus Graff, MSc, PhD, Department of Health Science and Technology, Aalborg University

Svend Eggert Jensen, MD, PhD, Department of Cardiology, Aalborg University Hospital

Partners:

  • Daniel J. Friedman, MD, Divison of Cardiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA

  • Peter van Dam, MSc, PhD, Peacs BV, Nieuwerbrug, Netherlands

Contact: