Electrocardiographic abnormalities in patients with severe versus mild or moderate chronic obstructive pulmonary disease followed in an academic outpatient pulmonary clinic.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of some electrocardiographic (ECG) abnormalities in severe versus mild or moderate chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has been reported.
METHODS: ECGs were interpreted blindly in 63 patients with severe COPD (group 1) versus 83 patients with mild or moderate COPD (group 2).
RESULTS: Right atrial enlargement (RAE) occurred in 44% of group 1 and 15% of group 2 patients (P < 0.001). Right ventricular hypertrophy (RVH) occurred in 29% of group 1 and 4% of group 2 patients (P < 0.001). Right bundle branch block (RBBB) occurred in 29% of group 1 and 11% of group 2 patients (P < 0.01). Marked clockwise rotation of heart occurred in 40% of group 1 and 18% of group 2 patients (P < 0.005). Low voltage in limb leads occurred in 24% of group 1 and 11% of group 2 patients (P < 0.05). A QS pattern in leads III and aVF occurred in 16% of group 1 and 4% of group 2 patients (P < 0.01). Left axis deviation (LAD) occurred in 16% of group 1 and 4% of group 2 patients (P < 0.01). Premature atrial complexes (PACs) occurred in 19% of group 1 and 7% of group 2 patients (P < 0.05). Supraventricular tachyarrhythmias (SVTs) occurred in 16% of group 1 and 5% of group 2 patients (P < 0.025).
CONCLUSIONS: RAE, RVH, RBBB, marked clockwise rotation of heart, a QS pattern in leads III and aVF, LAD, PACs, and SVTs were significantly more prevalent in patients with severe COPD than in patients with mild or moderate COPD. ©2011, Wiley Periodicals, Inc.