[Evaluation of the ECG in epidemiologic studies of cardiovascular diseases--the Minnesota code]

The authors evaluate the importance of the Minnesota code for description of the ECG curve in epidemiological surveys. The ECG tracing is not evaluated clinically but is only described and changes are summarized into categories marked arbitrarily as minor and major ischaemic changes. In these categories their predictive value is assessed on a longitudinal basis. It was revealed that minor and major ischaemic changes have a predictive value for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality similarly as other risk factors of ischaemic heart disease. The authors mention some epidemiological surveys where the Minnesota code was used. Assessment of the ECG tracing and its evaluation by the Minnesota code should be done by a person trained in this method. At present it is possible to use also computer evaluation of ECG tracings by the Minnesota code.