Electrocardiographic abnormalities in centenarians: impact on survival

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Cardiology
• Clinical Practice

Background:

• Centenarian population is increasing, necessitating understanding of their health conditions.
• Previous studies on ECG abnormalities in the elderly have methodological limitations.
• ECG abnormalities are common in older adults, but their specific impact on centenarians requires investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze electrocardiogram (ECG) abnormalities in a prospective cohort of centenarians.
• To assess the impact of these ECG abnormalities on the survival of centenarians.

Main Methods:

• Prospective study involving 80 centenarians (mean age 100.8 years).
• Data collection included medical history, ECG, blood analysis, Barthel index (BI), cognitive mini-exam (CME), and Charlson index (ChI).
• Patients were followed via telephone until death.

Main Results:

• Only 7% of centenarians had a normal ECG; common abnormalities included atrial fibrillation (AF) (26.3%), conduction defects (37.5%), and ischemia suggestive changes (38.8%).
• History of heart disease was associated with AF and ischemic changes.
• Mortality risk was independently associated with AF, hyperglycemia, hypoalbuminemia, and functional dependence (BI).

Conclusions:

• ECG abnormalities are prevalent in centenarians but not linked to sex, functional capacity, or cognitive impairment.
• Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the only ECG abnormality significantly impacting survival in this population.
• Findings highlight the importance of identifying AF in centenarians for prognostic assessment.