Nonspecific ST-T Wave Changes Suggest Increased Cardiac Risk

Nonspecific ST-T wave electrocardiographic changes (NSSTTWC) are often considered almost within the normal limits of ECG variability, but this assumption has been poorly documented. These . . .

Nonspecific ST-T wave electrocardiographic changes (NSSTTWC) are often considered almost within the normal limits of ECG variability, but this assumption has been poorly documented. These authors report on the long-term prognostic significance of such changes in 1,673 men aged 40 to 55 years with no evidence of coronary heart disease at the time they enrolled in this epidemiologic study.

During five consecutive annual examinations, 173 (10 percent) of the men had at least one ECG with NSSTTWC. In 105 of these 173 cases, only one such abnormal tracing was ever recorded. During 29 years of follow-up, a graded increase in mortality rates for all cardiovascular diseases was observed, with higher rates for men with more instances of NSSTTWC. The …

Reviewing Author

TH Lee