Prevalence of conduction abnormalities in a systolic heart failure population by race, ethnicity, and gender.

BACKGROUND: There is paucity of data regarding conduction abnormalities in the Hispanic population with systolic heart failure (HF). We aimed to evaluate the prevalence of electrocardiogram (ECG) abnormalities in a systolic HF population, with attention to the Hispanic population. METHODS: A cross sectional study of 926 patients enrolled in a systolic HF disease management program. ECGS were obtained in patients with an ejection fraction (EF) ≤ 40% by echocardiography at enrollment. Univariate and multivariate analysis adjusted by ethnicities was performed. RESULTS: White patients exhibited higher prevalence of atrial fibrillation (14.7%) than black patients (8.0%, P = 0.01) whereas Hispanics presented higher prevalence of paced rhythm (14.3% in Hispanics vs. 6.5% in whites and 5.2% in blacks, P<0.01 for both comparisons), higher prevalence of left bundle branch block (LBBB, 14.5% in Hispanics vs. 8.8% in whites and 5.8% in blacks, P = 0.002) and increased frequency of abnormal QT intervals (76.7% in Hispanics) than whites (59.6%) and blacks (69%) patients (P< 0.01 for both comparisons). A QRS interval greater than 120 ms was less prevalent among blacks (15.8% vs. 26.0% in whites and 25.3% in Hispanics, P = 0.01 for both comparisons). Univariate and multivariate analysis disclosed no influence of other characteristics (age, sex, coronary artery disease, hypertension, ejection fraction, medications) in the ECG findings. CONCLUSIONS: Hispanics with Systolic HF presented with increased prevalence of paced rhythm, LBBB, and abnormal QT intervals. Attention should be addressed to these ECG variations to recommend additional guidance for therapeutic interventions and provide important prognostic information.

Prevalence of electrocardiographic abnormalities in a systolic heart failure disease management population by race, ethnicity, and sex.

The prevalence of electrocardiographic (ECG) abnormalities in systolic heart failure patients have predominantly been described in white patients, with relatively little known about their prevalence in black and Hispanic populations. The purpose of this study is to compare the prevalence of ECG abnormalities by race, ethnicity, and sex. The authors conducted an observational prospective study that included 926 patients from 2 hospital facilities. A systolic heart failure disease management program implemented in both sites enrolled patients with an ejection fraction < or =40% by echocardiography. Black patients had less evidence of myocardial infarction than whites and Hispanics. Black patients had more evidence of left ventricular hypertrophy than Hispanics and whites. Hispanics evidenced more ischemic changes than blacks and whites. Among black patients, left ventricular hypertrophy was more prevalent in women. ECG abnormalities vary across race, ethnicity, and sex. These variations may have implications for further diagnostic testing and potential treatment regimens.