Prevalence and Prognostic Significance of Negative U-waves in a 12-lead Electrocardiogram in the General Population

Negative U-waves are a relatively rare finding in an electrocardiogram (ECG), but are often associated with cardiac disease. The prognostic significance of negative U-waves in the general population is unknown. We evaluated 12-lead ECGs of 6,518 adults (45% male, mean age 50.9 +/- 13.8 years) for the presence of U-waves, and followed the subjects for 24.5 +/- 10.3 years. Primary end points were all-cause mortality, cardiac mortality, and sudden cardiac death; secondary end point was hospitalization due to cardiac causes. Negative U-waves (amplitude >= 0.05 mV) were present in 231 subjects (3.5%), minor negative (amplitude 0.30). In conclusion, negative U-waves are associated with adverse events in the general population. In men, this association is independent of cardiovascular risk factors. (C) 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Peer reviewe

Impact of age and sex on the long-term prognosis associated with early repolarization in the general population

BACKGROUND Early repolarization (ER) has been linked to the risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD) in the general population, although controversy remains regarding risks across various subgroups. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to investigate whether age and sex influence the prognostic significance of ER. METHODS We evaluated the 12-lead electrocardiograms of 6631 Finnish general population subjects age >= 30 years (mean age 50.1 +/- 13.9 years; 44.5% men) for the presence of ER (J-point elevation >= 0.1 mV in >= 2 inferior/lateral leads) and followed them for 24.4 +/- 10.3 years. We analyzed the association between ER and the risk of SCD, cardiac death, and ad-cause mortality in subgroups according to age (= 50 years) and sex. RESULTS ER was present in 367 of the 3305 subjects age = 50 years. ER was not associated with any of the endpoints in the entire study population. After adjusting for clinical factors, ER was associated with SCD (hazard ratio [HR] 1.88; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.16-3.07) in subjects CONCLUSION ER is associated with SCD in subjects younger than 50 years, particularly in women, but not in subjects 50 years and older.Peer reviewe

Prognostic significance of flat T-waves in the lateral leads in general population

Publisher Copyright: © 2021 Elsevier Inc.Background: Negative T-waves are associated with sudden cardiac death (SCD) risk in the general population. Whether flat T-waves also predict SCD is not known. The aim of the study was to examine the clinical characteristics and risk of SCD in general population subjects with flat T-waves. Methods: We examined the electrocardiograms of 6750 Finnish general population adults aged ≥30 years and classified the subjects into 3 groups: 1) negative T-waves with an amplitude ≥0.1 mV in ≥2 of the leads I, II, aVL, V4–V6, 2) negative or positive low amplitude T-waves with an amplitude <0.1 mV and the ratio of T-wave and R-wave <10% in ≥2 of the leads I, II, aVL, V4–V6, and 3) normal positive T-waves (not meeting the aforesaid criteria). The association between T-wave classification and SCD was assessed during a 10-year follow-up. Results: A total of 215 (3.2%) subjects had negative T-waves, 856 (12.7%) flat T-waves, and 5679 (84.1%) normal T-waves. Flat T-wave subjects were older and had more often cardiovascular morbidities compared to normal T-wave subjects, while negative T-wave subjects were the oldest and had most often cardiovascular morbidities. After adjusting for multiple factors, both flat T-waves (hazard ratio [HR] 1.81; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.13–2.91) and negative T-waves (HR 3.27; 95% CI 1.85–5.78) associated with SCD. Conclusions: Cardiovascular risk factors and disease are common among subjects with flat T-waves, but these minor T-wave abnormalities are also independently associated with increased SCD risk.Peer reviewe

Poor R-wave progression as a predictor of sudden cardiac death in the general population and subjects with coronary artery disease

Publisher Copyright: © 2022 Heart Rhythm SocietyBackground: Poor R-wave progression (PRWP) is a common clinical finding on the standard 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG), but its prognostic significance is unclear. Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine the prognosis associated with PRWP in terms of sudden cardiac death (SCD), cardiac death, and all-cause mortality in general population subjects with and without coronary artery disease (CAD). Methods: Data and 12-lead ECGs were collected from a Finnish general population health examination survey conducted during 1978–1980 with follow-up until 2011. The study population consisted of 6854 subjects. Main end points were SCD, cardiac death, and all-cause mortality. PRWP was defined as R-wave amplitude ≤ 0.3 mV in lead V3 and R-wave amplitude in lead V2 ≤ R-wave amplitude in lead V3. Results: PRWP occurred in 213 subjects (3.1%). During the follow-up period of 24.3 ± 10.4 years, 3723 subjects (54.3%) died. PRWP was associated with older age, higher prevalence of heart failure and CAD, and β-blocker medication. In multivariate analyses, PRWP was associated with SCD (hazard ratio [HR] 2.13; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.34–3.39), cardiac death (HR 1.75; 95% CI 1.35–2.15), and all-cause mortality (HR 1.29; 95% CI 1.08–1.54). In the subgroup with CAD, PRWP had a stronger association with cardiac mortality (HR 1.71; 95% CI 1.19–2.46) than in the subgroup without CAD, while the association with SCD was significant only in the subgroup with CAD (HR 2.62; 95% CI 1.38–4.98). Conclusion: PRWP was associated with adverse prognosis in the general population and with SCD in subjects with CAD.Peer reviewe

Risk of sudden cardiac death associated with QRS, QTc, and JTc intervals in the general population

BACKGROUND QRS duration and corrected QT (QTc) interval have been associated with sudden cardiac death (SCD), but no data are available on the significance of repolarization component (JTc interval) of the QTc interval as an independent risk marker in the general population. OBJECTIVE In this study, we sought to quantify the risk of SCD associated with QRS, QTc, and JTc intervals. METHODS This study was conducted using data from 3 population cohorts from different eras, comprising a total of 20,058 individuals. The follow-up period was limited to 10 years and age at baseline to 30-61 years. QRS duration and QT interval (Bazett's) were measured from standard 12-lead electrocardiograms at baseline. JTc interval was defined as QTc interval - QRS duration. Cox proportional hazards models that controlled for confounding clinical factors identified at baseline were used to estimate the relative risk of SCD. RESULTS During a mean period of 9.7 years, 207 SCDs occurred (1.1 per 1000 person-years). QRS duration was associated with a significantly increased risk of SCD in each cohort (pooled hazard ratio [HR] 1.030 per 1-ms increase; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.017-1.043). The QTc interval had borderline to significant associations with SCD and varied among cohorts (pooled HR 1.007; 95% CI 1.001-1.012). JTc interval as a continuous variable was not associated with SCD (pooled HR 1.001; 95% CI 0.996-1.007). CONCLUSION Prolonged QRS durations and QTc intervals are associated with an increased risk of SCD. However, when the QTc interval is deconstructed into QRS and JTc intervals, the repolarization component (JTc) appears to have no independent prognostic value.Peer reviewe

Risk Factors Associated With Atrioventricular Block

IMPORTANCE Pacemaker implantations as a treatment for atrioventricular (AV) block are increasing worldwide. Prevention strategies for AV block are lacking because modifiable risk factors have not yet been identified. OBJECTIVE To identify risk factors for AV block in community-dwelling individuals. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS In this population-based cohort study, data from the Mini-Finland Health Survey, conducted from January 1, 1978, to December 31, 1980, were used to examine demographics, comorbidities, habits, and laboratory and electrocardiographic (ECG) measurements as potential risk factors for incident AV block. Data were ascertained during follow-up from January 1, 1987, through December 31, 2011, using a nationwide registry. A total of 6146 community-dwelling individuals were included in the analysis performed from January 15 through April 3, 2018. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Incidence of AV block (hospitalization for second-or third-degree AV block). RESULTS Among the 6146 participants (3449 [56.1%] women; mean [SD] age, 49.2 [12.9] years), 529 (8.6%) had ECG evidence of conduction disease and 58 (0.9%) experienced a hospitalization with AV block. Older age (hazard ratio [HR] per 5-year increment, 1.34; 95% CI, 1.16-1.54; P CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE In this analysis of data from a population-based cohort study, suboptimal blood pressure and fasting glucose level were associated with AV block. These results suggest that a large proportion of AV blocks are assocated with these risk factors, even after adjusting for other major adverse coronary events.Peer reviewe

Risk of sudden cardiac death associated with QRS, QTc, and JTc intervals in the general population

BackgroundQRS duration and corrected QT (QTc) interval have been associated with sudden cardiac death (SCD), but no data are available on the significance of repolarization component (JTc interval) of the QTc interval as an independent risk marker in the general population.ObjectiveIn this study, we sought to quantify the risk of SCD associated with QRS, QTc, and JTc intervals.MethodsThis study was conducted using data from 3 population cohorts from different eras, comprising a total of 20,058 individuals. The follow-up period was limited to 10 years and age at baseline to 30–61 years. QRS duration and QT interval (Bazett’s) were measured from standard 12-lead electrocardiograms at baseline. JTc interval was defined as QTc interval – QRS duration. Cox proportional hazards models that controlled for confounding clinical factors identified at baseline were used to estimate the relative risk of SCD.ResultsDuring a mean period of 9.7 years, 207 SCDs occurred (1.1 per 1000 person-years). QRS duration was associated with a significantly increased risk of SCD in each cohort (pooled hazard ratio [HR] 1.030 per 1-ms increase; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.017–1.043). The QTc interval had borderline to significant associations with SCD and varied among cohorts (pooled HR 1.007; 95% CI 1.001–1.012). JTc interval as a continuous variable was not associated with SCD (pooled HR 1.001; 95% CI 0.996–1.007).ConclusionProlonged QRS durations and QTc intervals are associated with an increased risk of SCD. However, when the QTc interval is deconstructed into QRS and JTc intervals, the repolarization component (JTc) appears to have no independent prognostic value.</p

Airway obstruction, serum vitamin D and mortality in a 33-year follow-up study

Background and objective: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and low vitamin D status predict mortality, but their combined effect on mortality remains inconclusive. We aimed to investigate a joint effect of airway obstruction and vitamin D status on mortality in a nationally representative cohort. Methods: We analysed data of 6676 Finnish adults participating between 1978 and 1980 in a national health examination survey, undergoing spirometry and having all necessary data collected. We followed them up in national registers through record linkage until 31 December 2011. We categorised the subjects with obstruction using the lower limit of normal (LLN) and the measured serum 25-hydroxyvitamin-D (s-25(OH)D) into tertiles. Results: Both obstruction and low s-25(OH) D independently predicted mortality in a multivariate model adjusted also for age, sex, smoking, education, leisure physical activity, body mass index, asthma and serum C-reactive protein. However, a statistically significant (p = 0.007) interaction emerged: the adjusted mortality HRs (95% CI's) for s-25(OH)D in tertiles among the subjects without and with obstruction were 1.00 (lowest), 0.96 (0.87-1.05) and 0.89 (0.81-0.98); and 1.00, 0.96 (0.71-1.31) and 0.57 (0.40-0.80), respectively. Conclusions: In conclusion, obstruction and low s-25(OH)D predict mortality independently of each other. Our findings suggest that low vitamin D status might be particularly detrimental among subjects with obstruction.Peer reviewe

Lifestyle and metabolic factors in relation to shoulder pain and rotator cuff tendinitis: A population-based study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Shoulder pain is a common health problem. The purpose of this study was to assess the associations of lifestyle factors, metabolic factors and carotid intima-media thickness with shoulder pain and chronic (> 3 months) rotator cuff tendinitis.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>In this cross-sectional study, the target population consisted of subjects aged 30 years or older participating in a national Finnish Health Survey during 2000-2001. Of the 7,977 eligible subjects, 6,237 (78.2%) participated in a structured interview and clinical examination. Chronic rotator cuff tendinitis was diagnosed clinically. Weight-related factors, C-reactive protein and carotid intima-media thickness were measured.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The prevalence of shoulder joint pain during the preceding 30 days was 16% and that of chronic rotator cuff tendinitis 2.8%. Smoking, waist circumference and waist-to-hip ratio were related to an increased prevalence of shoulder pain in both genders. Metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes mellitus and carotid intima-media thickness were associated with shoulder pain in men, whereas high level of C-reactive protein was associated with shoulder pain in women. Increased waist circumference and type 1 diabetes mellitus were associated with chronic rotator cuff tendinitis in men.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Our findings showed associations of abdominal obesity, some other metabolic factors and carotid intima-media thickness with shoulder pain. Disturbed glucose metabolism and atherosclerosis may be underlying mechanisms, although not fully supported by the findings of this study. Prospective studies are needed to further investigate the role of lifestyle and metabolic factors in shoulder disorders.</p

Fat free mass and obesity in relation to educational level

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