Prevalences of ECG findings in large population based samples of men and women

Objective-To obtain accurate estimates of the prevalence of ECG abnormaliti es in the general population and to describe them in relation to age, sex, and some lifestyle related factors. Design-The results were obtained from the records of 47 358 men and women p articipating in four large Belgian epidemiological studies during the past 30 years. All tracings were read and coded by two trained cardiologists on the basis of Minnesota code criteria. Results-Prevalences of coronary heart disease and abnormal ECG findings ros e exponentially with age in both sexes, with the exception of atrioventricu lar block and the Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome. Major ECG findings were observed in 6.0% of all men and 4.3% of women, resulting in a signific ant adjusted sex ratio of 1.66 (95% confidence interval 1.46 to 1.88). The prevalence of minor ECG changes was slightly higher among men (10.4% v 9.5% in women). The occurrence of ischaemia-like findings on the BCG was compar able between men and women (9.0% v 9.8%). Independent of age, smoking, obes ity, diabetes, employment status, positive history of angina or infarction, and region, there were significantly higher prevalences of (Q/QS patterns, left ventricular hypertrophy, left axis deviation, arrhythmias, and atrial fibrillation or flutter in men than in women. Right bundle branch block an d WPW syndrome both occurred 3.5 times more often in men, while the prevale nce of left bundle branch block was comparable between the sexes. Conclusions-The large sample size allowed a precise description of the most important ECG abnormalities. These are not rare in the adult population an d most are strongly age related. Sex differences occur with some, but not a ll, abnormalities. The less common ECG abnormalities were more often observ ed among men.