[Correlative evaluation of electrocardiographic changes and spirometric parameters in pulmonary cardiopathy secondary...

EKG is not considered a sensitive procedure for diagnosis of chronic pulmonary heart disease (CPHD). We performed a correlative study between EKG signs and spirometry in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Fifty-six consecutive in-patients (M 52, F 4, age 59.1 +/- 13.1 yrs) with COPD and echocardiographic/roentgenologic signs of right ventricular enlargement were studied. An EKG score system (0-6) was developed considering: 1) AQRS greater than or equal to 90 degrees; 2) P waves greater than or equal to 2.5 mm; 3) R wave V1 greater than or equal to 7 mm or R/S V1 greater than or equal to 1; 4) R/S V5 less than or equal to 1; 5) RV strain pattern; 6) RBBB. Significant (p less than 0.01) linear correlations were observed between: a) AQRS vs FEV1 (r = -0.59); b) AQRS vs FEV1/FVC% (r = -0.61); c) R/S V5 vs FEV1, (r = +0.38); d) EKG score vs FEV1 (r = -0.42); e) EKG score vs FEV1/FVC% (r = -0.40). Significant relationship between EKG score and spirometry suggests that this criterium can be useful for a more reliable ecg diagnosis of CPHD.