title: T-wave inversion and mortality risk.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the predictive value of T-wave inversion (TWI) on routine electrocardiogram (ECG) for mortality in the general population with various risk groups in a prospective population-based follow-up study. Subjects. ECGs of a random population-based sample of 1814 men aged 42-60 years without coronary heart disease (CHD) at baseline.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During an average follow-up of 21 years, 685 deaths occurred. Of these deaths 174 were due to CHD and 278 to cardiovascular disease (CVD). There were 57 subjects with TWI. After adjusting for age, TWI was associated with an increased CHD mortality (relative risk (RR) 4.10, 95% CI 2.26-7.41), CVD mortality (RR 3.47, 95% CI 2.09-5.78), and all-cause mortality (RR 2.07, 95% CI 1.37-3.12). After further adjustment for conventional risk factors, TWI remained statistically significant, predicting CHD mortality (RR 2.62, 95% CI 1.57-4.36), CVD mortality (RR 2.18, 95% CI 1.40-3.38), and all-cause mortality (RR 1.41, 95% CI 1.00-2.01), respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  TWI is a strong predictor for CHD, CVD, and all-cause mortality in the general population. The respective risks of CHD and CVD among men with TWI were also increased among men with high blood pressure, LDL cholesterol, and obesity.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Public Health and Clinical Nutrition, Department of Medicine, University of Eastern Finland , Kuopio , Finland.
authors.forename: Sudhir
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kurl
authors.forename: Timo H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Mäkikallio
authors.forename: Jari A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Laukkanen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000401:mortality*; D053840:Brugada Syndrome; D000075224:Cardiac Conduction System Disease; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000401:mortality*; D002423:Cause of Death; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000401:mortality; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006329:Heart Conduction System / Q000002:abnormalities*; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000401:mortality; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D008078:Cholesterol, LDL
keywords: Men; T-wave inversion; mortality; risk