The electrical axis of the heart in nigerian patients with chronic obstructive lung disease in Benin City.
BACKGROUND
Of the electrocardiographic changes in chronic obstructive lung disease (COLD) patients, a shift of the P wave axis greater than 900 which is highly characteristic, is said to be due to hyperinflation and does not occur in interstitial lung disease.


OBJECTIVE
To describe the electrocardiographic changes in chronic obstructive lung disease patients.


METHODS
The electrical axis of the various waves of the ECG using the hexiaxial reference system in 92 Nigerian patients with COLD were examined, 39 of whom had associated cor pulmonale. P wave axis greater than 900 was present in 2(19.1%) of 17 patients with COLD alone and 15(41.7%) out of 36 with development of corpulmonale (p<0.001). The mean P wave axis was 64.7 ± 10.6 0 in those without cor pulmonale while it was significantly shifted to the right (83.90) in those with cor pulmonale. The mean QRS axis was 53.50 ± 21.20 and 89.0 ±12.40 in those without and with cor pulmonale respectively (p=0.7716). The QRS axis was normal in all but one of those without cor pulmonale while there was a right axis deviation in 51.7% of those with it. ST and T wave changes were mainly present in those with associated cor pulmonale.


CONCLUSIONS
The study shows that a shift of the electrical axis of the heart occurs in COLD patients mainly with the development of right ventricular hypertrophy (cor pulmonale), rather than the hyperinflation.
Department of Medicine, University of Benin Teaching Hospital, PMB 1111, Benin City, Nigeria.Email: eegbagbe@yahoo.com.
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Obasohan
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Egbagbe
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Bazuaye
D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009549:Nigeria; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011660:Pulmonary Heart Disease / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D014505:Urban Population