Early repolarization pattern in an ethnically diverse population: Increased risk in Hispanics

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Electrocardiography
• Public Health

Background:

• Early repolarization (ER) pattern on ECG is a known risk factor for mortality in Caucasian populations.
• The association between ER and mortality across diverse ethnic groups remains less understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between the ER pattern and all-cause mortality in a multiethnic cohort.
• To determine if J-point elevation in ER is associated with increased mortality across different ethnicities.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of ECGs from 17,901 individuals using the 2015 consensus criteria for ER pattern.
• Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and multivariable logistic regression to assess mortality predictors.
• Stratification of analysis by ethnicity to identify population-specific risks.

Main Results:

• ER pattern with J-point elevation ≥2 mm was significantly associated with increased all-cause mortality (OR: 1.333).
• This increased mortality risk was particularly evident in Hispanic patients with J-point elevation ≥2 mm (OR: 1.584).
• No significant difference in mortality was observed for ER pattern with J-point elevation ≥1 mm compared to controls.

Conclusions:

• Early repolarization pattern with significant J-point elevation (≥2 mm) is a predictor of increased mortality in a multiethnic population.
• The elevated mortality risk associated with this ECG finding appears to be driven by a higher risk in Hispanic individuals.
• Findings suggest potential ethnic-specific considerations for risk stratification in patients with early repolarization.