ECG ABNORMALITIES IN MYOPATHIES, CORONARY HEART-DISEASE AND CONTROLS

The aim of the study was to compare the prevalence of predefined ECG a bnormalities, compiled from the literature, and of increased electroca rdiographic myopathy indices (QT/PQ(s), P/PQ(s), R/S) among myopathy p atients, patients with coronary heart disease and healthy subjects. EC Gs from 27 myopathy patients, 35 patients with coronary heart disease and 36 healthy subjects were investigated. ECG abnormalities most ofte n observed in myopathy patients were ST-abnormalities, T-wave abnormal ities and tall R and/or S-waves. At least one increased electrocardiog raphic myopathy index was observed in 19% of the myopathy patients, 20 % of the patients with coronary heart disease and 19% of the healthy s ubjects. At least one predefined ECG abnormality was found in 78% of t he myopathy patients, 86% of the patients with coronary heart disease and 33% of the healthy subjects. In conclusion, ECG abnormalities freq uently occur in myopathy patients and nearly as often as in patients w ith coronary heart disease. Electrocardiographic myopathy indices lack specificity and are thus of minor help in assessing myocardial altera tions in myopathy patients.