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Electrocardiographic abnormalities in centenarians and octogenarians: a case-matched study

Ghassan Moubarak1, Vincent Algalarrondo, Nicolas Badenco

  • 1Department of Cardiac Pacing and Electrophysiology, Hospital Paris Saint-Joseph, Paris, France. ghassan.moubarak@gmail.com

Annals of Noninvasive Electrocardiology : the Official Journal of the International Society for Holter and Noninvasive Electrocardiology, Inc
|October 26, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Electrocardiograms (ECGs) in centenarians show distinct patterns compared to younger elderly individuals, revealing age-related changes independent of heart disease. These findings highlight unique cardiac characteristics in extreme longevity.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Gerontology
  • Medical Diagnostics

Background:

  • Centenarians represent a model for successful aging, yet often exhibit cardiovascular diseases.
  • Electrocardiogram (ECG) findings in centenarians can reflect normal aging or underlying pathologies.
  • Identifying ECG features specific to extreme age is crucial for understanding aging processes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify electrocardiogram (ECG) features uniquely associated with extreme age in centenarians.
  • To differentiate age-related ECG changes from those caused by cardiac diseases in the oldest old.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective analysis of 55 centenarians hospitalized between 2000 and 2010.
  • Matched comparison with three octogenarians per centenarian, controlling for hypertension, aortic stenosis, heart failure, and ischemic heart disease.

Main Results:

  • Centenarians had higher heart rates and more frequent left QRS axis deviation and Q waves than octogenarians.
  • Atrial premature beats were more common in centenarians, while atrial fibrillation was less frequent.
  • A strictly normal ECG was rarer in centenarians (4%) compared to octogenarians (15%).

Conclusions:

  • Abnormal ECG findings are prevalent in centenarians.
  • ECG characteristics in centenarians differ significantly from younger elderly individuals.
  • These distinct ECG differences appear unrelated to the presence of diagnosed cardiac diseases.
Abstract

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