Bundle-branch block in a general male population: the study of men born 1913.
BACKGROUND
Interest in bundle-branch block has focused primarily on its role as a predictor of mortality and coexisting cardiovascular diseases. Previous studies of prevalence, correlation to cardiovascular disease, and mortality have produced conflicting results.


RESULTS
We studied a random-sampled population of 855 men who were 50 years old in 1963 and followed them up for 30 years with repeated examinations. Men who developed bundle-branch block were studied with regard to cumulative incidence, relationship with cardiovascular disease/risk factors, and survival. The prevalence of bundle-branch block increases from 1% at age 50 years to 17% at age 80 years, resulting in a cumulative incidence of 18%. No significant relationship with ischemic heart disease or mortality was found. Men who would develop bundle-branch block had a bigger heart volume at age 50 years and developed diabetes mellitus and congestive heart disease during follow-up more often than control subjects.


CONCLUSIONS
Bundle-branch block correlates strongly to age and is common in elderly men. Our results support the theory that bundle-branch block is a marker of a slowly progressing degenerative disease that also affects the myocardium.
Eriksson
P
P
Clinical Experimental Research Laboratory, Section of Preventive Medicine, Department of Medicine, Sahlgrenska University Hospital/Ostra, Göteborg, Sweden.
Hansson
P O
PO
Eriksson
H
H
Dellborg
M
M
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002037:Bundle-Branch Block / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000453:epidemiology; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D015996:Survival Rate; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology