Twelve-lead electrocardiography in the young: Physiologic and pathologic abnormalities

• Published in: Heart rhythm Vol. 9; no. 12; pp. 2018 - 2022
• Main Authors: Kobza, Richard, MD, Cuculi, Florim, MD, Abächerli, Roger, PhD, Toggweiler, Stefan, MD, Suter, Yves, MD, Frey, Franz, MD, Schmid, Johann Jakob, PhD, Erne, Paul, MD
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.12.2012
• Subjects: Adolescent; Arrhythmias, Cardiac - diagnosis; Arrhythmias, Cardiac - epidemiology; Arrhythmias, Cardiac - physiopathology; Bundle branch block; Cardiovascular; Early repolarization; Electrocardiography - methods; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Heart Rate - physiology; Humans; Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular - diagnosis; Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular - epidemiology; Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular - physiopathology; Male; Prevalence; Retrospective Studies; Situs inversus; Switzerland - epidemiology; T-wave abnormalities; Twelve-lead electrocardiography; Switzerland; T-wave abnormalities; ECG; Situs inversus; Early repolarization; Twelve-lead electrocardiography; Bundle branch block; electrocardiography
• ISSN: 1547-5271; 1556-3871
• DOI: 10.1016/j.hrthm.2012.08.034

BACKGROUND/ OBJECTIVE The purpose of the present study was to analyze the prevalence of physiologic and pathologic ECG abnormalities in a cohort of young conscripts that represents the whole young generation of today. METHODS ECGs of all Swiss citizens who underwent conscription for the army during a 29-month period were analyzed manually. RESULTS ECGs of 43,401 conscripts (mean age 19.2±1.1 years) were analyzed; 158 conscripts were female. Incomplete right bundle branch block was found in 5870 (13.5%) and left anterior fascicular block in 360 (0.83%). First-degree AV block was present in 329 (0.8%) and Mobitz type I (Wenckebach) second-degree AV block in 3 (0.01%). Early repolarization was observed in 1035 (2.4%), T-wave inversion in 39 (0.09%), and minor T-wave changes in 182 (0.42%). Brugada-like abnormalities were observed in 6 (0.01%). None of the conscripts had atrial fibrillation or flutter. CONCLUSION ECG abnormalities can be found in a relatively large proportion of young individuals. Incomplete right bundle branch block, left fascicular block, and first-degree AV block are the most frequent findings. No conscript presented with atrial fibrillation or flutter.