ECG Leads I and II to Evaluate Diuresis of Patients with Congestive Heart Failure Admitted to the Hospital via the Emergency Department.

Background: Attenuation of electrocardiogram (ECG) QRS complexes is observed in patients with a variety of illnesses and peripheral edema (PERED), and augmentation with alleviation of PERED. Serial ECGs in stable individuals display variation in the amplitude of QRS complexes in leads V1–V6, stemming from careless placement of recording electrodes on the chestwall. Electrocardiographs record only leads I and II, and mathematically derive the other four limb leads in real time. This study evaluated the sum of the amplitudes of ECG leads I and II, along with other sets of ECG leads in the monitoring of diuresis in patients with congestive heart failure (CHF). Methods: Twenty patients with CHF had ECGs and weights recorded on admission and at discharge. The amplitude of the QRS complexes in all ECG leads were measured and sums of I and II, all limb leads, V1–V6, and all 12 leads were calculated. Results: There was a good correlation between the weight loss and the increase in the sums of the amplitudes of the QRS complexes from leads I and II (r = 0.55, P = 0.012), and the six limb leads (r = 0.68, P = 0.001), but a poor correlation with the V1–V6 leads (r = 0.04, P = 0.85) and all 12 leads (r = 0.1, P = 0.40). Conclusions: Sums of the amplitudes of the ECG QRS complexes from leads I and II constitute a reliable, easily obtainable, ubiquitously available, bedside clinical index, which can be employed in the diagnosis, monitoring of management, and follow-up of patients with CHF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]