抄録
Background: Significance of an ST-T abnormality in subjects with no apparent heart diseases is to be determined.
Subjects and methods: The study involved 44,990 adults (16,368 males and 28,622 females) aged 40–85 years who underwent an annual health examination. Cardiovascular risks (CVRs) were considered positive if 1) body mass index was ≥25 Kg/m2, 2) systolic blood pressure (BP) ≥130 mmHg and/or diastolic BP ≥85 mmHg, 3) triglyceride ≥150 mg/dl, 4) HDL-C level ≤40 mg/dl for men and ≤50 mg/dl for women, or 5) fasting blood glucose ≥110 mg/dl. The relation between CVRs and ST-T abnormalities were evaluated.
Results: ST-T abnormalities were found in 6.49% in males, and more frequently in females: 8.45%. Each CVR and the number of combined CVRs were risk factors for ST-T abnormalities on ECG (P<0.0001 for a trend). On the other hand, ECG-based LVH was found in 5.7% but showed no relation with CVRs or their combinations. ST-T abnormalities may represent preclinical cardiac involvement of CVRs more sensitively than LVH on ECG and ECG findings may be used in mass examinations.
Conclusions: ST-T abnormalities without apparent heart diseas may be considered to be nonspecific but this cross-sectional study showed that they are related to CVRs and may be used as an early marker of preclinical cardiac damage by CVRs.
