Electrocardiographic observations on 500 unselected young adults at work

Nonspecific electrocardiographic abnormality as a predictor of coronary heart disease: the Framingham Study

The risk of developing overt coronary heart disease is examined in relation to occurrence of non-specific electrocardiographic S-T and T-wave abnormalities (NSA-ECG) in the Framingham Study. In the course of follow-up, 14% of the 5127 men and women had or developed NSA-ECG without clinically apparent intervening coronary heart disease. During 30 years of surveillance, 760 men and 578 women developed a first overt clinical manifestation of coronary heart disease. NSA-ECG appears to be a hallmark of a compromised coronary circulation which predicted the occurrence of every clinical manifestation of coronary heart disease independently of known risk factors including hypertension, its chief determinant. Coronary morbidity and mortality was increased twofold in each sex. The more common T-wave abnormality alone carried a significant increased risk, although the combination of S-T and T-wave seemed most hazardous. Persons who develop NSA-ECG without other explanation warrant vigorous preventive management against coronary heart disease.

The normal electrocardiogram

An attempt has been made to show that the data available are not altogether adequate for establishing exact criteria for the normal electrocardiogram. Some of the more recent efforts to correct this situation have been reviewed and synthesized so far as possible into a form which it is hoped may be immediately useful. It is emphasized that this report is merely of recent clinical progress in the field. A more comprehensive and statistically complete investigation of the normal electrocardiogram in all age groups remains to be done.

The Electrocardiogram in Heart Disease Detection

In a study of a group of 2000 volunteers in a New England community the authors compare the relative merits of the 12-lead and a simplified lead I electrocardiogram in the detection of heart disease. The contribution the electrocardiograph would make if included in a heart disease screening program is evaluated. A possible heart disease screening method is suggested.

The Q-T Interval in Normal Infants and Children

Because of renewed clinical interest in the Q-T interval and because of a need of normal values for an accompanying investigation in rheumatic fever, the Q-T was studied in 517 normal infants and children from birth to 13 years of age. A mean K of 0.404 for Bazett's formula and of 0.378 for Ashman and Hull's formula was obtained. With Bazett's curve approximating the data more closely, a Bazett's scattergram of the normal Q-T at varying heart rates was constructed. Although no difference in K value was noted between the sexes, significant differences were observed in certain age groups.