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Electrocardiograms of Adult Outpatients Followed-Up in Basic Health Care Units in the Community of the South Region of São Paulo City

Year: 2014
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: OBJECTIVE: The electrocardiogram (ECG) is an important, available, and inexpensive diagnostic tool to assess cardiac symptoms. Few studies address the prevalence of ECG abnormalities or changes of a normal tracing in ECG in outpatients. Our objective was to evaluate ECGs of adult outpatients to determine whether changes from a normal tracing could disclose the patients' cardiovascular health status. METHODS: We evaluated all elective ECGs obtained in adult outpatients, from January 2009 to January 2010, at a municipal hospital in the city of São Paulo, Brazil. Electrocardiography was performed with a 3-channel, 12-lead machine (Dixtal Cardio-page EP-3, Dixtal Biomedica, São Paulo, Brazil), and results were interpreted by a cardiologist. RESULTS: Electrocardiography was performed in 3567 adult outpatients, 62.5% of whom were women, with a mean age of 51 years (standard deviation [SD] = 16 years). Of the 1918 patients whose ECGs showed abnormalities (mean age = 56 years, SD = 15 years), 1137 were women. Electrocardiographic changes were found in 1184 of the patients. Minor changes were found in 38.3% of patients. A total of 3133 changes were found in 1918 abnormal ECG results. There was a statistical difference related to sex and age, and abnormal ECG results were more frequent in men. There was a high prevalence of abnormal ECG results in the population studied. CONCLUSIONS: There were more ECGs obtained from women; however, men and elderly patients more frequently had abnormal ECG results.
DOI: 10.7812/tpp/13-060
Authors: Alice T Yamada, Renata X Baldow, Carla Ribeiro, Wilma N Ribeiro, Carolina Peruzzi, Nilce M Matsuda, Alfredo J Mansur
Language: English
Field: Medicine
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2080109151
FWCI: 0.441
Cites: 10
Cited by: 4
Related to: 10