Abstract
INTRODUCTION: We investigated improvement of electrocardiographic LVH detection by adding measures of adiposity and/or novel electrocardiographic measures. Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is an important risk factor for adverse cardiovascular outcomes. Improvement of electrocardiographic criteria for LVH is desirable, since electrocardiography is widely used. METHODS: We included 1091 participants of the Netherlands Epidemiology of Obesity Study (NEO) who underwent cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Performance of Sokolow-Lyon and Cornell voltage and product criteria was assessed. Stepwise regression analysis was performed with each conventional electrocardiographic criterion and age, sex, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, and waist:hip ratio (p-entry < 0.05, p-removal > 0.10). T-wave abnormalities or the spatial QRS-T angle (SA) were added to the improved models. RESULTS: The study population had a mean (SD) age of 56 (6) years, BMI of 26.1 (4.0) kg/m(2) and 46% were men. MRI-LVH was present in 10% of participants. The c-statistic for Sokolow-Lyon voltage was 0.58, R(2) was 0.02 and sensitivity at 90% specificity was 16%, for Sokolow-Lyon product this was 0.62, 0.02, and 21%, for Cornell voltage 0.65, 0.04, and 28% and for Cornell product 0.67, 0.04, and 25%. Best performing models were obtained by addition of both BMI and SA (Sokolow-Lyon voltage: c-statistic 0.74, R(2) 0.11, sensitivity of 41% at 90% specificity; Sokolow-Lyon product: 0.75, 0.12, 42%; Cornell voltage: c-statistic 0.70, R(2) 0.08, sensitivity of 38% at 90% specificity; Cornell product: c-statistic 0.72, R(2) 0.08, sensitivity of 44% at 90% specificity). CONCLUSIONS: Electrocardiographic detection of LVH improved by adding BMI and SA to a model with conventional electrocardiographic criteria. This approach would require little extra effort and application in clinical practice is feasible. However, results should first be replicated in high-risk populations.