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Prevalence of Brugada sign in a Greek tertiary hospital population

Konstantinos P Letsas1, Gerasimos Gavrielatos, Michalis Efremidis

  • 1Second Department of Cardiology, Evangelismos General Hospital of Athens, 45-47 Ipsilantou St., 10676 Athens, Greece. k.letsas@mail.gr

Europace : European Pacing, Arrhythmias, and Cardiac Electrophysiology : Journal of the Working Groups on Cardiac Pacing, Arrhythmias, and Cardiac Cellular Electrophysiology of the European Society of Cardiology
|October 13, 2007
PubMed

Insights

The Brugada-type electrocardiographic (ECG) pattern is rare in the Greek population, affecting 0.22% of individuals. Those with the pattern and normal heart structure showed no adverse events during follow-up.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Clinical Electrophysiology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Brugada syndrome is a genetic disorder characterized by abnormal electrocardiogram (ECG) findings and an increased risk of sudden cardiac death.
  • The prevalence of Brugada-type ECG patterns in unselected populations, particularly in Greece, remains largely undetermined.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the prevalence of the Brugada-type electrocardiographic (ECG) pattern in an unselected Greek population.
  • To assess the clinical course and outcomes of individuals identified with Brugada-type ECG patterns.

Main Methods:

  • A 4-year prospective study involving 11,488 individuals from an urban Greek tertiary hospital.
  • Electrocardiograms (ECGs) were analyzed to identify Brugada-type patterns (types 1, 2, and 3).
  • Individuals with Brugada-type ECGs and structurally normal hearts were followed up for 24 months.

Main Results:

  • The overall prevalence of the Brugada sign was 0.22% (25 individuals).
  • Type 1 Brugada ECG pattern was found in 0.02%, and types 2 or 3 in 0.2%.
  • The incidence was higher in males (0.34%) than females (0.04%). Four individuals had structural heart disease.
  • Twenty-one individuals without structural heart disease showed a benign clinical course during follow-up, with no mortality or life-threatening arrhythmias.

Conclusions:

  • The Brugada-type ECG pattern is infrequently observed in the Greek hospital-based population.
  • Individuals with Brugada-type ECG patterns and structurally normal hearts exhibit a benign clinical course.
  • Further research may be warranted to understand the long-term implications in diverse populations.
Abstract

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