Study of reasons for requesting an electrocardiogram in family medicine

• Type: Article in International Conference Proceedings Book
• Date: 2009

Authors

Paulo Santos (Author) FMUP

Conference proceedings International

Title: 15th Wonca Europe Conference

Pages: 152 S-152 S

15th Wonca Europe Conference

Basel, Switzerland, 16-19, September, 2009

Indexing

Pubmed / Medline

Scientific classification

FOS: Medical and Health sciences > Clinical medicine

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

Other information

Abstract (EN): Introduction: The rest electrocardiogram of 12 derivations (ECG) represents an important complementary examination in the practice of the Family Medicine. Objective: To quantify the reasons for requesting ECG in practice of an urban Health Center and to determine their predictors. Methodology: A cross-sectional observational study of a consecutive sample consisting by the electrocardiograms requested in the context of the diary assistance in the period between 1/03/2007 and 29/02/2008 for nine doctors of family of the Centro de Saúde de S. João, Oporto, through the application of a structuralized grate filled by doctors during the act of requesting of exam and completed by manual revision of the individual clinical processes when incomplete.A model of multinominal logistic regression for determination of predictors of request was used. Results: 466 orders of ECG had been analyzed, corresponding to 457 patients (43.1% males) with median of ages of 57 years (range 8 to 98 years). The average of order for doctor was of 51.7. The main reasons for the solicitation of the examination had been (1) control of patients with cardiovascular risk factors (24.5%); (2) global health examination (22.1%); (3) chest pain (18.4%); (4) palpitations (9.9%); (5) Change in cardiac rhythm (7.9%); and (6) Study of syncope or dizziness (4.1%). In the model of regression adjusted for age and sex, presence of symptoms (p <0.001), prior history of cardiac or vascular illness (p <0.001), arterial hypertension (p <0.001), type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (p <0.001) and dyslipidemia (p = 0.009) had been identified as significant predictors of requesting. Conclusions: The solicitation of the ECG is strongly conditioned by cardiac or vascular illness, confirmed or suspected, and for the cardiovascular risk factors. However, about one fifth of requests were made for health examination of individuals without risk factors or known illness.

Language: Portuguese

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific