PREVALENCE AND CLINICAL CORRELATES OF LOW LIMB LEAD VOLTAGE ECGS IN A PREOPERATIVE PATIENT COHORT: AN OBSERVATIONAL STUDY FROM NORTH KASHMIR

Authors

  • Charanjit Singh Consultant Medicine, Govt. District Hospital, Baramulla, UT- J&K
  • Ibrahim Masoodi Associate Professor, Department of Gastroenterology, Yenepoya Medical College, Mangalore.
  • Syed Masood Medical Superintendent, Govt. District Hospital Baramulla, UT- J&K.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.32553/ijmsdr.v4i8.635

Keywords:

Electrocardiograms, low voltages, limb leads, clinical correlates

Abstract

Objectives: To categorize and characterize clinical correlates of patients with resting Electrocardiograms (ECGs) depicting low QRS voltages only in the limb leads.

Introduction: Low QRS voltages are arbitrarily defined as 5mm or less in height (0.5 mV or less in amplitude) in majority of the QRS complexes, in each of the six limb leads. From a practical stand point, voltages were measured manually from the zenith R wave to the nadir of Q or S wave which ever was greater.

Methods: During the study period (Four yrs), 12 lead resting ECGs depicting low QRS voltages only in the limb leads were collected for 424 patients and manual measurements were recorded. Associated clinical conditions were determined from the integration and interpretation of data related to patient history, findings of clinical examinations, recent investigations and focused perusal of past medical records. These 424 patients were part of the study group who were planned for various surgeries in our hospital and were sent for medical clearance.

Results: Known causes of low limb lead QRS voltages were present in around 41% of our patients. Another 40 % of the patients depicted causes which were not earlier reported in the literature. Surprisingly around 19 % of the patients did not conform to the earlier categories and were labeled as idiopathic. Clinical prudence mandates caution in considering this bigger group as a surrogate for normal variants.

Conclusions:  In our population ECGs with low QRS voltages specifically in the limb leads are associated with both know causes and many previously unreported conditions.

Keywords: Electrocardiograms; low voltages; limb leads; clinical correlates.

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Published

2020-08-06

How to Cite

Charanjit Singh, Ibrahim Masoodi, & Syed Masood. (2020). PREVALENCE AND CLINICAL CORRELATES OF LOW LIMB LEAD VOLTAGE ECGS IN A PREOPERATIVE PATIENT COHORT: AN OBSERVATIONAL STUDY FROM NORTH KASHMIR. International Journal of Medical Science And Diagnosis Research, 4(8). https://doi.org/10.32553/ijmsdr.v4i8.635

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