[Value of the electrocardiographic Cornell criteria for detecting left ventricular hypertrophy in elderly men].
OBJECTIVE
To explore the value of electrocardiographic (ECG) Cornell criteria for detecting left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) in elderly Chinese men.


METHODS
Since 1990, 244 autopsies were performed in our hospital in elderly men, LVH was determined in these autopsy hearts and correlated to ECG LVH signs recorded within 3 months before death according to Cornell (SV3+RaVL) and Sokolow-Lyon criteria (SV1+RV5 or RV6). The reference value of Cornell criteria was obtained based on values from autopsied healthy hearts, the sensitivity and specificity of Cornell and Sokolow-Lyon criteria for detecting left ventricular hypertrophy in these elderly men were calculated.


RESULTS
There were significantly correlations between QRS amplitudes of Cornell and Sokolow-Lyon criteria and autopsy left ventricular wall thickness in these hearts. The reference value of Cornell criteria (SV3+RaVL) was 2.9 mV. The sensitivity of Sokolow-Lyon and Cornell criteria for detecting LVH was 25.4% and 34.3% (P<0.05 vs Sokolow-Lyon criteria), respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Voltage (SV3+RaVL)>or=2.9 mV might be a suitable diagnostic value for detecting left ventricular hypertrophy in Chinese elderly men.
Zeng
Xue-zhai
XZ
Department of Cardiology, Beijing Hospital, Beijing 100730, China.
Liu
De-ping
DP
He
Qing
Q
Guo
Hong-lin
HL
Fang
Fang
F
Liu
Dong-ge
DG
Dong
Rong
R
Zeng
Huan-yu
HY
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D017379:Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012016:Reference Values; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity