The value of electrocardiography in routine health screening

Electrocardiograms recorded at rest in 4000 consecutive subjects who were clinically well at the time when they first attended a health screening centre for routine medical examination were analysed. In 9.5 per cent there were electrocardiographic abnormalities. The number in whom this abnormality was previously unsuspected represented 8.5 per cent of the total number of subjects. Previously undiagnosed ischaemic heart disease was found in 1.9 per cent but, excluding the subjects with chronic ischaemic heart disease, 1.8 per cent of all those who attended the Centre derived benefit from this single test, as it directly influenced their future clinical management.