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Updated: Jul 6, 2026

Evaluation of Left Ventricular Structure and Function using 3D Echocardiography
Published on: October 28, 2020
Thresholds in the relationship between mortality and left ventricular hypertrophy defined by electrocardiography
Edward P Havranek1, Caroline D B Emsermann, Desiree N Froshaug
1Department of Medicine, Denver Health Medical Center, Denver, Colorado 80204-4507, USA.ehavrane@dhha.org
Insights
New electrocardiographic criteria for left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) were developed using mortality data. These novel criteria show promise for better clinical risk assessment and patient outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Medical Diagnostics
- Public Health
Background:
- Current electrocardiographic (ECG) criteria for left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) rely on autopsy or echocardiography.
- LVH criteria validated against mortality data may offer greater clinical relevance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify ECG measures that predict 5-year survival.
- To establish mortality-based thresholds for LVH diagnosis.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III).
- Selected ECG measures discriminating between survivors and non-survivors at 5 years.
- Employed regression techniques to identify voltage thresholds and compared survival rates.
Main Results:
- Cornell voltage, Cornell product, and Novacode index demonstrated discriminative power for mortality.
- The Novacode index showed significant associations with 5-year all-cause and cardiovascular mortality, independent of systolic blood pressure.
- Identified thresholds for these ECG measures in relation to mortality risk.
Conclusions:
- ECG criteria for LVH validated against mortality data are potentially clinically useful.
- This approach may enhance the diagnostic and prognostic value of ECG in identifying LVH.
Background:
Electrocardiographic criteria for the diagnosis of left ventricular hypertrophy in current use were defined using autopsy results or echocardiography; criteria defined using mortality might be more clinically meaningful.
Methods:
Using data from Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III), we selected electrocardiographic measures that best differentiated those surviving at 5 years from those who did not. We identified voltage thresholds using regression techniques and then compared survival for subjects above and below the thresholds.
Results:
Cornell voltage, Cornell product, and Novacode estimate of left ventricular mass index were discriminative for mortality and had identifiable thresholds present in their relationships with mortality. Independent of systolic blood pressure, there were significant associations with 5-year mortality for Novacode index above threshold; hazard ratios were 1.58 for women and 1.27 for men, and for 5-year cardiovascular mortality were 1.78 for women and 2.34 for men.
Conclusions:
Electrocardiographic criteria for left ventricular hypertrophy validated against mortality might be clinically useful.
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