PURPOSE: To examine the prognostic significance of electrocardiographic (ECG) abnormalities among the elderly. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The Finnish cohorts of the Seven Countries Study involved 697 men aged 65 to 84 years at baseline in 1984. A 5-year follow-up was made from 1984 to 1989. Fatal myocardial infarction, nonfatal myocardial infarction, and all-cause mortality were outcome measures. RESULTS: Seventy-four fatal myocardial infarctions (MI), 101 fatal or nonfatal Mis, and 207 deaths occurred. When electrocardiographic changes were analyzed one by one, men with Q waves (n = 98), high-amplitude R waves (n = 112), depressed ST-interval (n = 122) or T-wave changes (n = 263) had significantly (P < 0.05) higher risk of coronary events and all-cause mortality than men without these changes. Additionally, men with atrial fibrillation (n = 49) had significantly higher risk of death. Highest risk was observed among men with Q waves together with ST- or T-wave changes. Men with both ST depression and T flattening/inversions without Q waves had also increased risk, whereas this was not true for men with Q waves without concomitant ST- or T-wave changes. CONCLUSION: Electrocardiographic abnormalities suggestive of coronary heart disease are associated with a high risk for coronary events and total mortality among elderly men. Among the elderly, a reliable history of coronary heart disease may not be easily achievable, thus the ECG could potentially be used as an indicator of symptomless or atypical heart disease.
PURPOSE: To examine the prognostic significance of electrocardiographic (ECG) abnormalities among the elderly. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The Finnish cohorts of the Seven Countries Study involved 697 men aged 65 to 84 years at baseline in 1984. A 5-year follow-up was made from 1984 to 1989. Fatal myocardial infarction, nonfatal myocardial infarction, and all-cause mortality were outcome measures. RESULTS: Seventy-four fatal myocardial infarctions (MI), 101 fatal or nonfatal Mis, and 207 deaths occurred. When electrocardiographic changes were analyzed one by one, men with Q waves (n = 98), high-amplitude R waves (n = 112), depressed ST-interval (n = 122) or T-wave changes (n = 263) had significantly (P < 0.05) higher risk of coronary events and all-cause mortality than men without these changes. Additionally, men with atrial fibrillation (n = 49) had significantly higher risk of death. Highest risk was observed among men with Q waves together with ST- or T-wave changes. Men with both ST depression and T flattening/inversions without Q waves had also increased risk, whereas this was not true for men with Q waves without concomitant ST- or T-wave changes. CONCLUSION: Electrocardiographic abnormalities suggestive of coronary heart disease are associated with a high risk for coronary events and total mortality among elderly men. Among the elderly, a reliable history of coronary heart disease may not be easily achievable, thus the ECG could potentially be used as an indicator of symptomless or atypical heart disease.
Authors: Anita Kumar; Ronald J Prineas; Alice M Arnold; Bruce M Psaty; Curt D Furberg; John Robbins; Donald M Lloyd-Jones Journal: Circulation Date: 2008-12-08 Impact factor: 29.690
Authors: Antonio Luiz P Ribeiro; Milena S Marcolino; Ronald J Prineas; Maria Fernanda Lima-Costa Journal: J Am Heart Assoc Date: 2014-02-07 Impact factor: 5.501
Authors: Jani Rankinen; Petri Haataja; Leo-Pekka Lyytikäinen; Heini Huhtala; Terho Lehtimäki; Mika Kähönen; Markku Eskola; Andrés Ricardo Pérez-Riera; Antti Jula; Harri Rissanen; Kjell Nikus; Jussi Hernesniemi Journal: Ann Noninvasive Electrocardiol Date: 2020-08-17 Impact factor: 1.468