Prognostic Significance of Electrocardiographic Voltages and Their Serial Changes in Elderly With Systolic Hypertension

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to assess the prognostic value of ECG voltages at baseline and their serial changes during follow-up in a large prospective study with standardized follow-up and strictly defined end points. Patients who were 60 years old or older, with systolic blood pressure of 160 to 219 mm Hg and diastolic pressure P ≤0.01 for all). A 1-mV decrease in electrocardiographic voltages during follow-up independently predicted a lower incidence of cardiac events (relative hazard rate: 0.86; P ≤0.05), but not of stroke or mortality. In conclusion, electrocardiographic voltages at baseline and their serial changes during follow-up predict subsequent events in older patients with systolic hypertension.