title: Left ventricular mass by 12-lead electrocardiogram in healthy subjects: comparison to cardiac magnetic resonance imaging.
abstract: The ability to estimate left ventricular mass (LVM) from the standard 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) has been shown to be limited because there is a considerable variability of the normal 12-lead ECG due to demographic and anthropometric variables. We sought to study LVM in healthy subjects and its relationship with QRS duration, and established electrocardiographic criteria for left ventricular hypertrophy. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging was used to measure LVM. Seventy-one healthy volunteers (36 men; age range, 21-82 years) were studied. All ECG criteria tested showed a statistically significant relationship with LVM. The highest R value was found between LVM and QRS duration, as well as the 12-lead voltage-duration product (R = 0.59, P < .001 for both). The lowest R value was found for the Sokolow-Lyon voltage criterion (R = 0.25, P = .033). Left ventricular mass differed significantly between sexes, as did all ECG criteria except the Sokolow-Lyon criterion. Thus, in healthy subjects, QRS duration alone is equally or more strongly correlated to LVM than are established electrocardiographic left ventricular hypertrophy criteria.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Physiology, Lund University Hospital, Sweden.
authors.forename: Minna B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Carlsson
authors.forename: Elin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Trägårdh
authors.forename: Henrik
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Engblom
authors.forename: Erik
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hedström
authors.forename: Galen
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wagner
authors.forename: Olle
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Pahlm
authors.forename: Håkan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Arheden
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology*; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D006801:Humans; D017379:Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular / Q000503:physiopathology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012737:Sex Factors; D016276:Ventricular Function