Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 21, 2026
Employing the Forced Oscillation Technique for the Assessment of Respiratory Mechanics in Adults
Published on: February 9, 2022
Identification of electrocardiographic values that indicate chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Atsushi Ichikawa1, Yoshihisa Matsumura1, Hiroshi Ohnishi2
1Department of Laboratory Medicine, Kochi Medical School, Kochi University, Japan.
Background:
The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between respiratory function and electrocardiogram (ECG) characteristics in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and to identify the ECG results that indicate possible COPD.
Methods:
The association between respiratory function and ECG results was retrospectively analyzed in 45 patients with COPD and 100 patients without COPD (controls).
Results:
Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that QRS amplitude in lead І was a significant predictor of COPD (partial regression coefficient = -4.208, p = 0.002). Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that a QRS amplitude less than 0.54 mV in lead І indicated possible COPD (sensitivity: 71%, specificity: 76%, area under the curve: 0.78 [95% confidence interval: 0.69-0.86], p < 0.001).
Conclusion:
Low voltage in lead І (QRS less than 0.54 mV) is an important criterion in detecting COPD.
Related Concept Videos
01:27Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-IV: Assessement and Diagnostic Studies
Medical History
01:20Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-I: Introduction
01:20Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-II: Pathophysiology
Chronic Inflammation
01:24Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Smoking is a primary risk factor for COPD, with over 80% of patients having a history of it. Patients typically experience progressive dyspnea or labored breathing, frequent coughing, and recurrent pulmonary infections. Many eventually succumb to respiratory failure, characterized by...
01:25Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-III: Symptoms and Complications.
Symptoms of COPD can be classified as primary or systemic. Primary symptoms relate to reduced airflow, while systemic or extrapulmonary symptoms relate to COPD's broader impact on the body.
Primary Symptoms of COPD:
01:29Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-V: Management
Smoking Cessation