[Epidemiological characteristics of major abnormal electrocardiogram in adults from Shanghai]

To understand the prevalence, characteristics and risk factors of major abnormal electrocardiogram (MA-ECG) in adults living in Shanghai.

The cross-sectional dataset of prevalence survey on diabetes and metabolic syndrome in adults, aged 20-74 years, from Shanghai, in 2007-2008, was analyzed. Demographic information, personal and, family histories of diseases were collected. Physical examination and laboratory tests were done. Subjects underwent examination on resting 12-leads electrocardiogram (ECG), ECG records were coded according to the Minnesota criteria and classified as MA-ECG or non-MA-ECG.

A total number of 5364 subjects (2003 men, 3361 women) were finally included in this analysis. (1) The standardized prevalence of MA-ECG was 7.3% (7.0% in men, 7.7% in women). In both genders, the age-specific prevalence of MA-ECG significantly increased with age (Ptrend < 0.01). The age-specific prevalence of MA-ECG in youths, middle aged and the elderly were 2.3%, 7.7%, and 17.3% in men, and 3.3%, 8.8% and 16.4% in women, respectively (both Ptrend < 0.01). (2) The three most common MA-ECG forms were arrhythmia (28.8%), bundle branch block (26.5%) and ST segment depression (20.0%) in men, while there appeared ST segment depression (44.6%), arrhythmia (23.0%) and combined MA-ECG (11.8%) in women. (3) Data from multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that other than age, coronary heart disease (CHD) was the only independent risk factor of MA-ECG in men, with its corresponding OR being 2.33 - 2.39; while in women, menopause (OR value: 1.72 - 1.85) and hypertension (OR value: 1.33 - 1.34) were main factors related to MA-ECG.

MA-ECG was prevalent in the middle aged and the elderly, with, arrhythmia and ST segment depression the most frequent forms of MA-ECG. Age, CHD and hypertension were the main risk factors of MA-ECG in the adults from Shanghai.