[Accuracy and variability of medical interpretation of the electrocardiogram]

The accuracy of medical interpretation of the ECG, the variability of electrocardiographic conclusions drawn by different physicians and by a specialist when re-analyzing the same ECG were considered. Three experienced physicians analyzed 700 ECG independently from one another. The electrocardiographic inferences were contrasted against the autopsy, roentgenographic and clinical findings. A paired comparison of electrocardiographic conclusions made by the physicians with respect to the principal groups of these conclusions was undertaken. The mean frequency of complete concurrence of the conclusions varied from 26 to 89 per cent, depending upon the type of the electrocardiographic conclusion. Subject to comparison were also conclusions drawn by a single physician with a two-fold analysis of the same ECG. In this case the frequency of divergent inferences amounted to 43 per cent.