title: Association of Age, Sex, Body Size and Ethnicity with Electrocardiographic Values in Community-based Older Asian Adults.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Existing electrocardiographic (ECG) reference values were derived in middle-aged Caucasian adults. We aimed to assess the association of age, sex, body size and ethnicity on ECG parameters in a multi-ethnic Asian population.
  
  
  METHODS
  Resting 12-lead ECG and anthropometric measurements were performed in a community-based cohort of 3777 older Asians (age 64.7±9.1 years, 1467 men, 88.8% Chinese, 7.7% Malay, 3.5% Indian, body mass index [BMI] 24.0±3.9kg/m(2)).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Men had longer PR interval, wider QRS, shorter QTc interval and taller SV3. In both sexes, older age was associated with longer PR interval, wider QRS, larger R aVL and more leftward QRS axis, while higher BMI was associated with longer PR interval, wider QRS, larger RaVL and more negative QRS axis. There were significant inter-ethnic differences in QRS duration among men, as well as in PR and QTc intervals among women (all adjusted p<0.05). Findings were similar in a healthy subset of 1158 adults (age 61.2±9.1 years, 365 men) without cardiovascular risk factors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These first community-based ECG data in multi-ethnic older Asians highlight the independent effects of age, sex, body size and ethnicity on ECG parameters.
authors.affiliation: National University Heart Centre, Singapore.
authors.forename: Eugene S J
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.affiliation: National Heart Centre Singapore, Singapore.
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yap
authors.affiliation: National University Heart Centre, Singapore.
authors.forename: Chang Fen
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: National University of Singapore, Singapore.
authors.forename: Liang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.affiliation: National University of Singapore, Singapore.
authors.forename: Shwe Zin
authors.initials: SZ
authors.lastname: Nyunt
authors.affiliation: Section of Cardiovascular Medicine, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Rajalakshmi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Santhanakrishnan
authors.affiliation: SingHealth Internal Medicine Residency Program, Singapore Health Services, Singapore.
authors.forename: Michelle M Y
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.affiliation: National University Heart Centre, Singapore.
authors.forename: Swee Chong
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Seow
authors.affiliation: National Heart Centre Singapore, Singapore; Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School, Singapore.
authors.forename: Chi Keong
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Ching
authors.affiliation: National Heart Centre Singapore, Singapore; Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School, Singapore.
authors.forename: Khung Keong
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Yeo
authors.affiliation: National University Heart Centre, Singapore; Cardiovascular Research Institute, National University Health System, Singapore; Christchurch Heart Institute, University of Otago, Otago, New Zealand.
authors.forename: A Mark
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Richards
authors.affiliation: National University of Singapore, Singapore.
authors.forename: Tze Pin
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Ng
authors.affiliation: National University Heart Centre, Singapore.
authors.forename: Toon Wei
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.affiliation: National Heart Centre Singapore, Singapore; Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School, Singapore. Electronic address: carolyn.lam@duke-nus.edu.sg.
authors.forename: Carolyn S P
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Lam
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D044466:Asian People / Q000208:ethnology*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology / Q000503:physiopathology; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D012737:Sex Factors; D012846:Singapore / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology
keywords: Age; Asian; Body size; Electrocardiogram; Ethnicity; Sex