May 17, 2026Journal of the American College of Cardiology
Outcome of Patients With Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy and a Normal Electrocardiogram
Key result
Normal ECG in HCM predicts a milder phenotype and 0 cardiac deaths.
- n=2,485
Why the study?
Although a 12-lead ECG is recommended for early detection of HCM, clinical outcomes of patients presenting with a normal ECG remain to be fully delineated.
Does a normal ECG at presentation predict a less severe phenotype and better prognosis in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy?
Population
135 HCM patients with a normal ECG and 2,350 HCM patients with an abnormal ECG
Comparison
Normal ECG at presentation vs abnormal ECG at presentation
Design
Single-centre observational cohort study
Authors
Discussion
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Member takes
Implication
Normal ECG may identify lower-risk HCM patients; leaves open whether it refines risk models or management in prospective studies.
Study Design
Type
Cohort (n=2,485)
Multicenter
No
Structured PICO
Does a normal ECG at presentation predict a less severe phenotype and better prognosis in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy?
P
Population
2,485 patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) diagnosed by echocardiogram
I
Intervention
Normal ECG at presentation
C
Comparator
Abnormal ECG at presentation
O
Outcome
Clinical phenotype and prognosis (cardiac survival)hard clinical
Patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy who present with a normal ECG represent a subset (approximately 6%) with a less severe clinical phenotype and excellent cardiovascular outcomes.
Cite This Study
McLeod et al. (2009) conducted a cohort in Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (n=2,485). Normal ECG vs. Abnormal ECG was evaluated on Cardiac survival. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy patients presenting with a normal ECG exhibited a less severe phenotype and had significantly better cardiac survival, with 0 cardiac deaths at follow-up.