Prevalence of the Brugada-Type ECG Recorded From Higher Intercostal Spaces in Healthy Korean Males

Abstract

Background Electrocardiograms (ECGs) recorded from the higher intercostal spaces (ICSs) are reported to be helpful for the diagnosis of Brugada syndrome (BS). However, the prevalence of Brugada-type ECG changes recorded from the higher ICSs is unknown in the healthy Korean population. Methods and Results A total of 225 healthy Korean male subjects with a mean age of 44±13 (20-69) years with no syncope or family history of sudden death were enrolled in the present study. ECGs were taken from 4th, 3rd, and 2nd ICSs and examined for Brugada-type ECG changes. There were none on the routine 12-lead ECGs, but 3 (1.3%) of the 225 subjects had a Brugada-type ECG recorded from the higher ICSs and 1 of them had a Brugada-type ECG recorded at both the 2nd and 3rd ICSs. The prevalence of the Brugada-type ECG was 1.3% at the 3rd ICS, 0.4% at the 2nd ICS. All were type 2. Conclusion Some healthy Korean males with normal routine ECGs show Brugada-type 2 changes on ECGs recorded from higher ICSs. (Circ J 2005; 69: 1064 - 1067)