• What is the problem/issue being addressed?
During the outgoing phase at Boston University, I worked on the project analyzing P-wave signal averaged ECG (P-SAECG) in Framingham Heart Study (FHS). FHS is the one of the most famous and important epidemiological cohorts with a very long follow-up period allowing to analyze risk factors, prediction of cardiovascular outcomes during a long period of time. The main aim of my project was to analyze the role of P-SAECG – a noninvasive, high fidelity measurement of atrial electric function – in FHS. Up to date, the P-SAECG had been analyzed in relatively small cohorts and showed discrepant results. Thus, P-SAECG analysis in one of the largest epidemiological cohorts – Framingham Heart Study – was an excellent opportunity to report reference values, association with clinical factors, and heritability. The next step which we are going to address is to assess the role of P-SAECGs predicting adverse clinical outcomes – incident AF and stroke.
• Why is it important for society?
With increased average global life expectancy and longer survival with chronic conditions, incidence and prevalence of atrial fibrillation (AF) has reached the dimension of a 21st century cardiovascular disease (CVD) epidemic. Despite multifaceted research efforts, the prevention of AF and its related complications remains challenging. The ECG is a widely available tool to analyze cardiac electrical activity. While the 12-lead resting ECGs are mostly used in clinical routine, the P-SAECG is considered as a more precise and advanced measure. Due to its association with severe adverse events – such as thromboembolic complications (e.g. stroke), heart failure, dementia, and death – it is crucial to predict AF and implement individualized risk management and treatment – especially in individuals at risk. Therefore, P-SAECG might represent a unique non-invasive diagnostic tool for prediction of AF and related adverse outcomes.
• What are the overall objectives?
The overall objective of analysis performed could be divided in two phases. During the first phase, the objective was to analyze P-SAECG reference values and association with clinical factors as well as heritability of different P-SAECG traits. The second phase is aimed to assess relation between P-SAECG with incident AF and stroke.
Although the implementation of the action has been hindered by COVID, the scientific goals have been achieved to a wide extent. The action had a positive impact on my career development and helped me to get my current position as an internetionally recognized researcher involved in large epidemiologic studies in US (Boston University) and EU (Netherlands, Groningen University).
