title: Electrocardiogram sensitivity in left ventricular hypertrophy according to gender and cardiac mass.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Several factors are known to interfere with electrocardiogram (ECG) sensitivity when diagnosing Left Ventricular Hypertrophy (LVH), with gender and cardiac mass being two of the most important ones
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the influence of gender on the sensitivity of some of the criteria used to detect LVH, according to the progression of ventricular hypertrophy degree.
  
  
  METHODS
  According to gender and the degree of LVH at the echocardiogram, the patients were divided in three groups: mild, moderate and severe LVH. ECG sensitivity to detect LVH was assessed between men and women, according to the LVH degree.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 874 patients, 265 were males (30.3%) and 609, females (69.7%). The [(S + R) X QRS], Sokolow-Lyon, Romhilt-Estes, Perugia and strain criteria showed high discriminatory power in the diagnosis of LVH between men and women in the three groups with LVH, with a superior performance in the male population and highlighting the importance of the [(S + R) X QRS] and Perugia scores. Conclusion: The diagnostic sensitivity of the ECG increases with the cardiac mass. The examination is more sensitive in men, highlighting the importance of the [(S + R) X QRS] and Perugia scores.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The diagnostic sensitivity of the ECG increases with the cardiac mass. The examination is more sensitive in men, highlighting the importance of the [(S + R) X QRS] and Perugia scores.
authors.affiliation: Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brasil.
authors.forename: Ana P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Colossimo
authors.forename: Francisco de Assis
authors.initials: Fde A
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.forename: Andrés R P
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Riera
authors.forename: Maria T N
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Bombig
authors.forename: Valter C
authors.initials: VC
authors.lastname: Lima
authors.forename: Francisco A H
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Fonseca
authors.forename: Maria C O
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Izar
authors.forename: Bráulio
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: L Filho
authors.forename: Dilma
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Souza
authors.forename: Rui M S
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Povoa
mesh_terms: D004452:Echocardiography; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D017379:Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012737:Sex Factors