Body-Surface Atrial Signals Analysis Based on Spatial Frequency Distribution : Comparison Between Different Signal Transformations

In contrast to electrograms, Body-Surface Potential Mapping (BSPM) records the global atrial activity, at the expenses of a lower spatial accuracy. The aim of this study is to investigate whether BSPM recordings can discriminate persistent patients undergoing electrical cardioversion, based on the body-surface normalized AF spatial frequency distribution. High-density BSPMs (120 anterior, 64 posterior electrodes) were recorded in 63 patients with persistent AF. For each patient and electrode recording, the frequency content of AF was analyzed on the raw signal, and also by means of the normalized correlation function, and by Singular Spectrum Analysis (SSA). In order to compare the body-surface spatial distributions of AF frequency in all patients, these distributions were first normalized, before performing statistical analysis. We found that the distribution of AF frequency on the body-surface, and its interpretation, are strongly dependent on the specific method employed. Moreover, the estimated body-surface AF frequency was greater over the central posterior and the right anterior BSPM locations. Finally, SSA-based decomposition followed by frequency analysis could discriminate AF patients recurring 4 to 6 weeks after electrical cardioversion from those who did not, based on the frequency content in the proximity of V1.

Automated summary

This study investigated the potential of using Body-Surface Potential Mapping (BSPM) to differentiate persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) patients based on the spatial frequency distribution of AF. Results showed that the distribution and interpretation of AF frequency on the body surface depend heavily on the method used, with higher AF frequency estimated in specific BSPM locations. Singular Spectrum Analysis (SSA) combined with frequency analysis proved effective in distinguishing recurrent AF patients from non-recurrent ones based on proximity to V1.