ECG as a screening tool

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A recent study among asymptomatic post-menopausal women found an adjusted hazard ratios for CHD events of 1.55 (95% CI, 1.14-2.11) for minor, 3.01 (95% CI, 2.03-4.46) for major ECG abnormalities.[1] This study used a well defined list of major and minor ECG abnormalities that can be used to get a feel for major and minor ECG abnormalities:

Major ECG abnormalities[1][2]:

  1. atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter
  2. high-degree atrioventricular dissociation
  3. left bundle-branch block
  4. right bundle-branch block
  5. indeterminate conduction delay
  6. Q-wave MI
  7. isolated ischemic abnormalities
  8. left ventricular hypertrophy with ST-T abnormalities
  9. supraventricular tachycardia
  10. ventricular preexcitation
  11. ventricular tachycardia

Minor ECG abnormalities[1][2]:

  1. first- and second-degree atrioventricular block
  2. borderline prolonged ventricular excitation
  3. prolonged ventricular repolarization
  4. isolated minor Q and ST-T abnormalities
  5. left ventricular hypertrophy without ST-T abnormalities
  6. left atrial enlargement
  7. frequent atrial or ventricular premature beats
  8. fascicular blocks

References

  1. Denes P, Larson JC, Lloyd-Jones DM, Prineas RJ, and Greenland P. Major and minor ECG abnormalities in asymptomatic women and risk of cardiovascular events and mortality. JAMA. 2007 Mar 7;297(9):978-85. DOI:10.1001/jama.297.9.978 | PubMed ID:17341712 | HubMed [Denes]
  2. Rautaharju PM, Park LP, Chaitman BR, Rautaharju F, and Zhang ZM. The Novacode criteria for classification of ECG abnormalities and their clinically significant progression and regression. J Electrocardiol. 1998 Jul;31(3):157-87. PubMed ID:9682893 | HubMed [novacode]

All Medline abstracts: PubMed | HubMed