Effective ECG reference ranges for Northern Thai people.

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Medical Diagnostics
• Population Health

Background:

• Electrocardiogram (ECG) values are crucial for arrhythmia classification.
• Standard ECG criteria may not apply universally across diverse patient demographics.
• Age, gender, and race significantly influence ECG measurements.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish reference ranges for normal ECG parameters in the Northern Thai population.
• To investigate the impact of age and gender on ECG values within this specific demographic.
• To provide data for refining diagnostic criteria for cardiovascular conditions in Northern Thailand.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of 12,993 normal ECG records from 9,853 Northern Thai patients.
• Data collection occurred between May 2013 and February 2014.
• Utilized data from Maharaj Nakorn Chiang Mai Hospital.

Main Results:

• Heart rate decreased with age; PR interval and QTcB increased with age in both genders.
• Normal heart rate ranges were found to be lower than standard intervals.
• QRS duration remained stable across age groups but was longer in males; QRS axis shifted leftward with age.

Conclusions:

• ECG trends in Northern Thais largely align with other populations but show distinct variations.
• Specific adjustments to ECG criteria based on age and gender are recommended for Northern Thai patients.
• This research supports the development of more precise, population-specific diagnostic tools.