Coronary angiography findings in patients with left bundle branch block

Abstract

Introduction. Left bundle branch block (LBBB) frequently serves as an indicator of underlying heart disease, prompting further diagnostic procedures. According to the Framingham study, the prevalence of coronary artery disease (CAD) in LBBB patients equals 45%. The association of LBBB and CAD is considered to be a poor prognostic factor, leading to a 3- to 4-fold increase in cumulative cardiovascular mortality. Aim of the study. This study aims to assess the association of LBBB and CAD in patients undergoing coronary angiography and to bring out the differences between men and women with LBBB and CAD. Methods and materials. The retrospective cross-sectional study was based on 105 case histories and 32 coronary angiography reports of patients admitted between 2019-2021 with complete LBBB in the Department of Cardiology, of the Sfânta Treime Municipal Hospital. Results. Out of 105 patients with LBBB, 32 underwent coronary angiography. Among them, 18 patients were male (56.25%) and 14 – female (43.75%). The angiographic study revealed that most of the patients had triple vessel disease - 40,62%; most of them were male – 21.87%. Double vessel disease was found in 18.75% of patients, with an equal distribution between men and women – 9.37%. Single vessel disease was determined in 28.12% of cases. Out of them, 18.75% were men, double the number of women - 9.37%. Only 12.5% of the patients had normal vessels, half of them were male. Conclusion. Coronary angiography findings reveal that there is a strong association between LBBB and CAD, as most of the investigated patients have various degrees of angiographic abnormalities. Male patients with LBBB have proven to be more likely to develop severe CAD, as their angiographic reports reveal poorer results compared to those of women.