Structural Heart Abnormalities Are Prevalent on the 12-Lead Electrocardiogram Among Firefighters
Alexander W Bae1, Chi-Ju Lai, Yichen Yu
1From the Department of Biochemistry & Biophysics, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York (A.W.B.); Goergen Institute for Data Science, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York (C.-J.L.); Bassett Research Institute, Bassett Medical Center, Cooperstown, New York (N.K., W.M.B.); Department of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York (D.H.); Fire Research Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, Maryland (W.C.T.); School of Nursing, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York (M.G.C., D.J.D.); Department of Computer Science, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York (Y.Y.); and Clinical Cardiovascular Research Center, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York (D.J.D.).
Objective:
Sudden cardiac death (SCD) is the leading cause of death among on-duty firefighters in the US. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of pathoanatomical substrates related to SCD in a cohort of firefighters over 9 years using 12-lead electrocardiograms (ECG).
Method:
Twelve-lead ECGs were collected from 2011-2019 as part of a health program. Measurements (eg, QRS duration) and interpretation statements (eg, left ventricular hypertrophy) were obtained using automated software (MUSE, GE Healthcare). Descriptive, comparative, and longitudinal analyses were performed ( P < 0.05).
Results:
A total of 1041 firefighters (mean age = 47.1 ± 13.6) were screened, recording 3142 ECGs. Among the ECGs ( n = 465) used for this analysis, 42.6% ( n = 198) had conduction abnormalities and 14.2% ( n = 66) with coronary disease indicators. There were no time-dependent changes.
Conclusions:
Routine 12-lead ECGs among firefighters may help detect structural heart defects that may increase the risk of SCD.
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