Diagnostic value of the electrocardiogram in detecting left ventricular hypertrophy in the elderly men / 中华老年医学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the correlation between QRS amplitudes and left ventricular wall thickness in autopsy specimens of elderly men.Methods The data of autopsy cases in our hospital since 1990 were retrospectively analyzed.The cases with QRS duration≥0.12 s and the pacing electrocardiogram were excluded.QRS amplitudes of standard 12-lead electrocardiography in 3 months before death were measured and the correlation between QRS amplitudes and left ventricular wall thickness was analyzed in the elderly men.Results Correlations were found between the amplitudes of the R waves in leads V5 ,V6, Ⅰ ,aVL[(1.1±0.7) mV, (0.95±0.6) mV, (0.44±0.3)mV and(0.35±0.3)mV] and left ventricular wall thickness[(13.6±5.4)mm;r=0.22,0.14,0.22,0.23,all P<0.05], and between the combination of QRS amplitudes SV1 +RV5 or RV6(1.9±1.2) mV] and left ventrieular wall thickness [(13.8± 5.4) mm; r = 0.23, P < 0.05].The correlationbetween the combination of QRS amplitudes (SV1 + RV5 or RV6 ) and left ventricular wall thickness was the strongest in 60-79 years old cases (r=0.48, P<0.01) ,and was decreased in 80-89 years old cases (r= 0.23, P<0.05).There was no correlation between the combination of QRS amplitudes (SV1+RV5or RV6) and left ventricular wall thickness in 90-101 years old cases (r= 0.03, P> 0.05).Conclusions Electrocardiogram is a reliable method for diagnosis of left ventricular hypertrophy in elderly men aged < 90 years.