Ecg indices poorly predict left ventricular hypertrophy and are applicable only in individuals with low cardiovascular risk

Abstract

Background: Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is an important risk factor for cardiovascular events. The electrocardiography (ECG) has poor sensitivity, but it is commonly used to detect LVH. Aim: To evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of known ECG indicators to recognize LVH in subgroups with different cardiovascular risk levels. Methods: 676 volunteers were included. Results: We found that 10.2% of the analyzed population had LVH based on echocardiography. Individuals with LVH were older, had a higher body mass index, higher systolic blood pressure, lower heart rate, higher parameters of insulin resistance, higher cardiovascular risk, and android-type obesity. Variables that remained independently associated with LVH were QRS duration, left atrial volume index, troponin T, and hemoglobin A1c. The receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve analysis of the Sokolow–Lyon index did not show a significant predictive ability to diagnose LVH in the whole study population including all cardiovascular risk classes. The ROC curves analysis of Cornell and Lewis indices showed a modest predictive ability to diagnose LVH in the general population and in a low cardiovascular class. Conclusions: There is a need for new, simple methods to diagnose LVH in the general population in order to properly evaluate cardiovascular risk and introduce optimal medical treatment of concomitant disease.