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Electrocardiographic J Wave and Cardiovascular Outcomes in the General Population (from the Atherosclerosis Risk In
Wesley T O'Neal1, Yi Grace Wang2, Hau-Tieng Wu3
1Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia.
The American Journal of Cardiology
|September 7, 2016
Summary
The J wave, a pattern on electrocardiograms, is not linked to higher risks of sudden cardiac death or heart disease mortality in middle-aged adults. This study found the J wave to be a benign finding in cardiovascular risk assessment.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Electrocardiography
- Public Health
Background:
- The J wave, a feature of early repolarization on ECGs, has an unclear association with adverse cardiovascular events.
- Previous research shows inconsistencies due to varied J wave measurement techniques.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between J wave detection using an automated method and cardiovascular outcomes.
- To analyze the J wave's predictive value for sudden cardiac death, coronary heart disease death, and cardiovascular mortality.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from 14,592 participants in the Atherosclerosis Risk In Communities (ARIC) study.
- Employed a fully automated method for J wave detection at baseline and during follow-up.
- Ascertained cardiovascular outcomes through extensive record review over a median follow-up of 22 years.
Main Results:
- A J wave was identified in 1.9% of participants.
- The J wave was not associated with increased risk for sudden cardiac death (HR 0.74), coronary heart disease death (HR 0.72), or overall cardiovascular mortality (HR 1.16).
- A significant interaction by gender was observed for cardiovascular mortality, with men showing a stronger association (HR 1.54) than women (HR 0.74).
Conclusions:
- The J wave, when detected by an automated method, appears to be a benign electrocardiographic finding.
- It is not associated with an increased risk of sudden cardiac arrest in middle-aged US adults.
- Further research may explore the gender-specific interaction observed in cardiovascular mortality.