Early differentiation of long-standing persistent atrial fibrillation using the characteristics of fibrillatory waves in surface ECG multi-leads

We characterized the f-waves in atrial fibrillation (AF) in the surface ECG by quantifying the amplitude, irregularity, and dominant rate of the f-waves in leads II, aVL, and V1, and investigated whether those parameters of the f-waves could discriminate long-standing persistent AF (LPeAF) from non-LPeAF. A total of 224 AF patients were enrolled: 112 with PAF (87 males), 48 with PeAF (38 males), and 64 with LPeAF (47 males). The f-waves in surface ECG leads V1, aVL, and II, which reflect well electrical activity in the right atrium (RA), the left atrium (LA), and both atria, respectively, were analyzed. The f-waves for LPeAF had lower amplitudes in II and aVL, increased irregularity and a higher dominant rate in II and V1 compared to PAF and PeAF (all p < 0.02). In a multivariate analysis, a low amplitude in lead II (<34.6 uV) and high dominant rate in lead V1 (≧390/min) (p < 0.001) independently discriminated LPeAF from the other AF types. The f-waves combined with both a low amplitude in lead II and high dominant rate in lead V1 were significantly associated with LPeAF (OR 6.27, p < 0.001). Characteristics of the f-waves on the surface ECG could discriminate LPeAF from other types of AF.