Does a computer-based ECG-recorder interpret electrocardiograms more efficiently than physicians?

The quality of ECG-interpretations by a computer-based ECG-recorder has been compared with those carried out visually by physicians in routine clinical practice. Independent reports have been analysed on 474 routine ECGs taken in the medical emergency and out-patient departments, as well as in general practice. Computer reports were available for all of the ECGs, but the physicians had not annotated their interpretations in 11% of them. Eighty-two per cent of the computer-interpretations were adjudged as being satisfactory. The corresponding figure for the physicians' interpretations was 64%. The computer-based ECG-recorder was found to be better than the physician at interpreting ECGs.