Right bundle branch block in a prospective population study

The prevalence of right bundle branch block (RBBB) according to clinical findings was investigated in 4210 randomly selected subjects of both sexes, aged 35 to 54, in 1969 and after a period of three years (1972). Rheumatic heart disease and decreased forced vital capacity were more often found in persons with RBBB than in persons without RBBB. The prevalence of RBBB was 0.24% in 1969 and 0.35% in 1972. Incomplete RBBB (iRBBB) was found in 2.95% in 1969 and in 1.64% in 1972. The R1 smaller than the R wave in V1 or V2 was seen in 3.37% in 1969 and in 2.72% in 1972. RBBB remained constant over a period of three years, iRBBB was constant in 40.8% and R1 smaller than the R wave in V1/V2 was constant in 34.8%. Hypertension and depression of the S-T segment and inverted T wave before and after exercise were not more frequent in subjects with RBBB than in those without RBBB.