Prevalence of electrocardiographic findings in elderly individuals: the Sao Paulo aging & health study.
BACKGROUND
The determination of the prevalence of electrocardiographic alterations in the older age strata of the Brazilian population represents important information with clinical and epidemiological purpose.


OBJECTIVE
To verify the prevalence rates of atrial fibrillation, enlarged Q/QS waves (Minnesota code 1.1-1.2) and left bundle branch block.


METHODS
In a population-based study, 1,524 participants (921 women and 603 men) aged > 65 years and living in Sao Paulo, Brazil, were submitted to electrocardiographic assessment at rest as well as anthropometric and blood pressure measurements, in addition to fasting blood collection for the measurement of glycemia, total cholesterol and fractions.


RESULTS
The age-adjusted prevalence for enlarged Q/QS waves was 12.1% (men, 17.2%; women, 9.6%), 2.4% for atrial fibrillation (men 3.9%; women, 2.0%); and 3.1% for left bundle branch block (men, 3.1%; women, 3.8%). For atrial fibrillation (both sexes), enlarged Q/QS waves (men) and left bundle branch block (women) there was an increase in frequency according to the age stratum. After adjusted for age, sex, diabetes mellitus and dyslipidemia, the odds ratio among the frequencies of enlarged Q/QS waves; arterial hypertension was 2.4 (95% CI: 1.4 -3.9) being 5.1 (95%CI: 1.8 -14.4) for women and 1.7 (95%CI: 0.95-3.1] for men.


CONCLUSIONS
The comparison of these data with those from other studies showed a high prevalence of enlarged Q/QS waves in this population, with a direct association with the prevalence of arterial hypertension.
Kawabata-Yoshihara
Liz A
LA
Hospital Universitário, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brasil.
Benseñor
Isabela M
IM
Kawabata
Vitor S
VS
Menezes
Paulo R
PR
Scazufca
Marcia
M
Lotufo
Paulo A
PA
D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002037:Bundle-Branch Block / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D017678:Sex Distribution