TY - JOUR
T1 - The association of spatial T wave axis deviation with incident coronary events. The ARIC study
AU - Vaidean, Georgeta D.
AU - Rautaharju, Pentti M.
AU - Prineas, Ronald J.
AU - Whitsel, Eric A.
AU - Chambless, Lloyd E.
AU - Folsom, Aaron R.
AU - Rosamond, Wayne D.
AU - Zhang, Zhu Ming
AU - Crow, Richard S.
AU - Heiss, Gerardo
PY - 2005/1/11
Y1 - 2005/1/11
N2 - Background. Although current evidence suggests that the spatial T wave axis captures important information about ventricular repolarization abnormalities, there are only a few and discordant epidemiologic studies addressing the ability of the spatial T wave axis to predict coronary heart disease (CHD) occurrence. Methods. This prospective study analyzed data from 12,256 middle-aged African American and white men and women, from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study (ARIC). Following a standardized protocol, resting standard 12-lead, 10-second electrocardiograms were digitized and analyzed with the Marquette GE program. The median follow-up time was 12.1 years; incident coronary heart disease comprised fatal and non-fatal CHD events. Results. The incidence rate of CHD was 4.26, 4.18, 4.28 and 5.62 per 1000 person-years respectively, across the spatial T wave axis quartiles. Among women for every 10 degrees increase in the spatial T wave axis deviation, there was an estimated increase in the risk of CHD of 1.16 (95% CI 1.04-1.28). After adjustment for age, height, weight, smoking, hypertension, diabetes, QRS axis and minor T wave abnormalities, this hazard rate ratio for women fell to 1.03 (0.92-1.14). The corresponding crude and adjusted hazard ratios for men were 1.05 (95% CI 0.96-1.15) and 0.95 (0.86-1.04) respectively. Conclusions. In conclusion, this prospective, population-based, bi-ethnic study of men and women free of coronary heart disease at baseline shows that spatial T wave axis deviation is not associated with incident coronary events during long-term follow up. It is doubtful that spatial T wave axis deviation would add benefit in the prediction of CHD events above and beyond the current traditional risk factors.
AB - Background. Although current evidence suggests that the spatial T wave axis captures important information about ventricular repolarization abnormalities, there are only a few and discordant epidemiologic studies addressing the ability of the spatial T wave axis to predict coronary heart disease (CHD) occurrence. Methods. This prospective study analyzed data from 12,256 middle-aged African American and white men and women, from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study (ARIC). Following a standardized protocol, resting standard 12-lead, 10-second electrocardiograms were digitized and analyzed with the Marquette GE program. The median follow-up time was 12.1 years; incident coronary heart disease comprised fatal and non-fatal CHD events. Results. The incidence rate of CHD was 4.26, 4.18, 4.28 and 5.62 per 1000 person-years respectively, across the spatial T wave axis quartiles. Among women for every 10 degrees increase in the spatial T wave axis deviation, there was an estimated increase in the risk of CHD of 1.16 (95% CI 1.04-1.28). After adjustment for age, height, weight, smoking, hypertension, diabetes, QRS axis and minor T wave abnormalities, this hazard rate ratio for women fell to 1.03 (0.92-1.14). The corresponding crude and adjusted hazard ratios for men were 1.05 (95% CI 0.96-1.15) and 0.95 (0.86-1.04) respectively. Conclusions. In conclusion, this prospective, population-based, bi-ethnic study of men and women free of coronary heart disease at baseline shows that spatial T wave axis deviation is not associated with incident coronary events during long-term follow up. It is doubtful that spatial T wave axis deviation would add benefit in the prediction of CHD events above and beyond the current traditional risk factors.
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U2 - 10.1186/1471-2261-5-2
DO - 10.1186/1471-2261-5-2
M3 - Article
C2 - 15644132
AN - SCOPUS:13244255406
SN - 1471-2261
VL - 5
JO - BMC Cardiovascular Disorders
JF - BMC Cardiovascular Disorders
M1 - 2
ER -