ECG findings in elderly.

ABSTRACT

There are not sufficient studies on ECG in elderly population in Nepal. This study attempts to evaluate the findings of ECG in elderly population in Nepal. ECG recordings from 171 apparently healthy geriatric subjects aged above 60 yrs (Mean age 70.66 +/- 7.14 yrs) from different geriatric homes were studied. The ECG was entirely normal in 38.6% of the study population. The major abnormalities were sinus bradycardia in 31 (18.1%) subjects, LVH in 25 (14.6%) subjects, premature supraventricular beats in 16 (9.4%) subjects, T wave changes in 11 (6.4%) subjects and right bundle branch block 16 (9.4%) subjects. Poor R wave progression in precordial leads in 9 (5.3%) subjects and right atrial overload in 4 (2.4%) were other common findings. More than one third of the elderly population in our study had entirely normal ECG. Majority of the abnormalities found in this study were very minor. These observations are important for the future studies evaluating healthy ageing in this region.