Study of results of electrocardiograms requested in Family Medicine

• Type: International Conference Proceedings Book
• Date: 2010

Authors

Paulo Santos (Author) FMUP

Publisher

16th WONCA EUROPE CONFERENCE

Malaga, Spain

Conference International

16th WONCA EUROPE CONFERENCE

Malaga, Spain, 6 a 9 de Outubro de 2010

Scientific classification

FOS: Medical and Health sciences > Clinical medicine

CORDIS: Health sciences > Medical sciences > Medicine > Family medicine

Other information

Abstract (EN): AIM(S) OR PURPOSE Electrocardiogram (ECG) is an important diagnostic test at practice of Family Medicine, making relevant the experience of general practitioners (GP) on his interpretation. Our purpose was to quantify results of ECG requested at daily office visits in Family Medicine and to characterize predictors for abnormalities found. DESIGN & METHODS We design a cross-sectional study of a consecutive sample of ECG requested at normal office visits of nine GP between 01/03/2007 and 29/02/2008 at Centro de Saúde de S. João – Oporto, by application of a structured grate filled by doctors when ECG was ordered and completed by manual revision of individual clinical files when incomplete. Three experienced GP proceed to ECG interpretation and readings were codified by NOVACODE. RESULTS 870 ECG were analyzed, corresponding to 817 patients (43.6% males) with median of ages of 58 years (interquartil range 42-71 years). 54,5% were normal and 35,9% presented minor alterations according to NOVACODE. It were recorded 601 different abnormalities. The most common were minor ST-T abnormalities (25,3%), sinus-bradycardia (15,8%), incomplete right bundle branch block (10,8%), left-anterior fascicular block (7,0%), right bundle branch block (6,0%), atrial fibrillation (4,5%), sinus-tachycardia (4,3%) and left atrial enlargement (3,8%), which represents about three quarters of abnormalities found. 17 diagnosis were needed to interpret 95% of all ECG. In multivariate analysis we found significant associations between major or minor alterations versus normal and the presence of Arterial hypertension (p=0,017), Type-2 diabetes mellitus (p=0,04), motives for asking to an ECG (p=0,006), cardiac disease history (p<0,001) and doctor that requested test (p=0,005). CONCLUSIONS The main kind of ECG result observed at Family Medicine office is the normal exam, with few electrocardiographic abnormalities appearing on daily practice, which is important on definition of GP graduation and medical education.

Language: Portuguese

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific