Electrocardiogram abnormalities and risk of cardiovascular mortality and all-cause mortality in old age: the Kahrizak Elderly Study (KES)

Abstract

Resting electrocardioghic (ECG) abnormalities might be value for mortality prediction. The aim of this study is to evaluate whether ECG abnormalities are associated with increased mortality in older residents of Kahrizak Charity Foundation (KCF). A total of 247 participants ≥60-years of KES were enrolled in this study. Adjudicated all cause mortality was collected over 3 years between 2006 and 2009. The subjects were classified as having major, minor or no ECG abnormalities according to the Minnesota Code. The addition of ECG to risk factors were examined to predict cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and all-cause mortality by using Cox proportional hazards regression models. At baseline, 104(42.1%) had major ECG abnormalities and 73(29.6%) had minor abnormalities. During a median follow-up of 3.2 years, 73 participants died from all-cause mortality and 31 deaths from CVD. Major ECG abnormalities were associated with an increased risk of CVD mortality in all models. The associations between minor ECG abnormalities at baseline and CVD mortality were not statistically significant. After adjustment for age and sex, Body mass index (BMI), smoking, diabetes, hypertension (HTN), hyperlipidemia and history of CVD, the participants with the major ECG abnormalities had higher risks of CVD mortality (HR: 3.12(95% CI, 1.02-9.57) and all-cause mortality (HR: 2.45(95% CI, 1.23-4.85) compared with those with normal ECG.

Keywords: Cardiovascular disease; Electrocardiography; Mortality.