What is the clinical evidence from this study?

Study design: Cross-Sectional. Population: Cardiomyopathy (n=50). Intervention: Cardiomyopathy. Primary outcome: Electrocardiographic findings.

August 21, 2021Open Access

Electrocardiography can be a clue to underlying cardiomyopathy

Key Result

Among 50 patients with cardiomyopathy, common ECG findings included normal voltage (80%), normal QRS complex (78%), evidence of ischemia (58%), and wide QRS with LBBB/RBBB (24%).

Study Design

Type

Cross-Sectional (n=50)

Multicenter

Structured PICO

Population

50 adult patients (mean age 55.6 years, 24% female) with symptoms of heart failure for more than 2 years were evaluated to identify electrocardiographic changes associated with cardiomyopathy.

Exposure

Electrocardiography (ECG) evaluation

Outcome

Frequency of various ECG findings (voltage, QRS complex, evidence of ischemia, tachycardia)surrogate

ECG is an accessible, low-cost initial investigation that can provide clues to underlying cardiomyopathy, with common findings including biventricular hypertrophy, left bundle branch block, and ST changes.

Limitations

Small sample size
Due to low socio-economic status, most patients denied follow up and refused specific investigations
Genetic diseases such as ARVC and HCM were not diagnosed with genetic studies

Abstract

Background: Electrocardiography (ECG) is an accessible, low cost diagnostic and prognostic tool. Recent studies have shown increased risk of deaths associated with cardiomyopathy and to study the patients with symptoms of cardiomyopathy on basis of ECG.Methods: A total of 50 patients were explained the procedure and the purpose of the study, informed consent was taken from the patient or the relative in a language they can understand. Required physical examination and necessary investigations were carried out. In our study, maximum subjects had normal voltage (80%) low voltage ECG findings were in 20%, normal QRS complex in 78%, wide QRS complex in 20% LBBB/RBBB in 24%. Evidence of ischemia like T wave changes in 34%, ST wave changes in 24% and tachycardia (26%). Thus ECG can give a clue for diagnosing cardiomyopathy and guide us for further managements but it is not a diagnostic marker for it since most of the patients had normal ECG findings.Results: In our study, electrocardiogram findings among patients are: Maximum subjects had normal voltage (80%). Low voltage ECG findings were in 20%. Normal QRS complex in 78%, wide QRS complex in 20% LBBB/RBBB in 24%. Evidence of ischemia in 58% and tachycardia (26%).Conclusions: ECG is an accessible, low cost diagnostic and prognostic tool. Most common findings in cardiomyopathy is biventricular hypertrophy and left bundle branch block with wide QRS complex, low voltage ECG and ST changes as also seen in present study. Thus, ECG can be initial investigation for cardiomyopathy and can give us clue for further investigations and management.

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