Analysis of the surface electrocardiogram to predict termination of atrial fibrillation: the 2004 computers in cardiology/physionet challenge

Abstract

Paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF) is self-terminating by definition, but the mechanisms by which this occurs are not wall understood. Holter recordings were used to develop and test algorithms for distinguishing between AF segments that are Non-terminating (N), Terminating within a second (T), and Soon terminating (within a minute, S). From rhe training set, the peak frequency ranges (mean±SD) were 4.8-6.0 (5.3±0.4) Hz for T 4.7- 6.4 (5.2±0.6) Hz for S, 4.8-7.3 (6.5±0.8) Hz for N. In 8 of IO T recordings there was a decrease in peak frequency from the penultimate to the ultimare second and in 8 of 10 T recordings there was a decrease in peak power. The last second had a lower peak frequency for T when compared to S of the same patient in 9 of IO patients. Between Nand T we correctly classified 20 of 20 from the training set and 29 of 30 from the test set. Bemeen S and T we correctly classified 20 of 20 from the training set and 20 of 20 from the test set.