Prevelence and Pattern of Electrocardiographic Abnormalities Seen in Adult Nigerians Presenting at LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, Osogbo, Nigeria. A Preliminary Report

Abstract

Objective: There is paucity of published data on the prevalence and pattern of electrocardiographic abnormalities (ECGA) seen in adult Nigerians referred for this investigation. This study determined the prevalence and pattern of some ECGA in Nigerian adults.

Methods: This is a hospital based audit to determine the prevalence and pattern of ECGA seen at the electrodiagnostic division of the Cardiac center of the Ladoke Akintola University Teaching Hospital, Osogbo.

The electrocardiographic tracings, demographics, clinical indicators and reports of 632 patients referred for electrocardiography over a 24 month period (October 2008 to October 2010) were retrieved and reviewed.

Results: 632 patients presented to the unit over a two year period. There were 305 males (48.3%) with mean age of 53.4 ± 16.9 years, 327 females (51.7%) with mean age of 53.3 ± 15.3 years and M: F ratio of 0.9:1. The commonest clinical indication for electrocardiographic referral was hypertension related causes; accounting for 55.5% of all referrals.  The overall prevalence of ECGA was 61.7%. Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) was the commonest abnormality (32.6%). Left anterior fascicular block (LAH) was the commonest conduction abnormality seen (3%). Ventricular premature contraction (VPCs) was the commonest arrhythmia observed (4.4%).  There was no information on the indication for electrocardiography in 7.4% of the request forms.

Conclusion: The prevalence of ECGA seen in a population of hospital patients is high. LVH is the most common electrocardiographic abnormality. The presence of important prognostic information like VPCs and LAH are readily identifiable and likely reflects the high prevalence of hypertension amongst our patients. Inadequate clinical information on electrocardiography referral forms is a common finding.

Key words: Electrocardiographic abnormalities, Pattern, Nigeria