Electrocardiographic screening by special purpose computer. Correlation with twelve-lead electrocardiogram

An electrocardiometer (ECM) which computes the T/R ratio of Lead I and simultaneously prints out Lead I was used to screen 1,004 consecutive hospitalized patients for EKG abnormalities. When the combined meter and Lead I print out analyses were used, 77.9% of abnormal EKG's were identified with a false-positive rate of less than 4%. The method is highly specific for detecting EKG abnormalities associated with anterior and lateral left ventricular disease. It could be used as an inexpensive mass screening device for electrocardiographic risk factors associated with coronary disease.