A community-based study on electrocardiographic abnormalities of adult population from South India - Findings from a cross sectional survey

BACKGROUND: There are no data on electrocardiographic (ECG) findings from general population of Indian subcontinent. We analyzed ECG abnormalities of in adults as part of a community survey of prevalence of coronary artery disease and risk factors from South India. METHODS AND RESULTS: In this cross-sectional study of men and women between the ages 20 to 79 years, ECGs recorded digitally were analyzed using the Minnesota code. Electrocardiograms were analyzed for abnormalities in 4630 participants (women 59.6%). The overall prevalence of ECG abnormalities (39.9%) was higher in men (47.24% vs. 34.9% p <0.0001). QRS axis deviation, first degree AV block, fascicular blocks, incomplete right bundle branch block, sinus bradycardia and ST elevation in the anterior chest leads were markedly higher in men. Sinus tachycardia and low voltage QRS occurred more often in women. The overall prevalence of atrial fibrillation was 0.32% which was markedly lower than the western data. Brugada and early repolarisation patterns occurred in 1.06% and 1.56% respectively, equal in both age groups, but markedly higher in men. Brugada pattern occurred more often than in the west, but much less than the Far East population. Early repolarisation pattern was similar to rest of Asian population, but significantly less than the Caucasian population CONCLUSION: In this community-based study, prevalence of major electrocardiographic abnormalities was high. Overall, men had significantly higher ECG abnormalities.