Frequency of ischaemic exercise E.C.G. Changes in symptom-free men with various forms of primary hyperlipaemia

Serum cholesterol and triglycerides were measured in approximately 12,000 men attending a screening centre. 130 symptom-free men (aged thirty-five to sixty-five) were selected from the top 2% with the highest lipid values. They, and 59 normolipaemic controls, were studied by recording electrocardiograms (E.C.G.) before and during exercise. The frequency of so-called ischaemic E.C.G. changes (ST-segment depressions Minnesota code 4.1-4.4) increased with age both in controls and in the hyperlipaemic group. Ischaemic E.C.G. changes were significantly more common in all types of hyperlipaemia (types IIA, IIB, III, and IV) than in controls. The high frequency of the exercise E.C.G. changes in symptom-free hyperlipaemic men reinforces the argument for early treatment of hyperlipaemia to prevent ischaemic heart-disease.