ECG findings reveal women at risk of heart disease

Reported by Susan Aldridge, PhD, medical journalist

Electrocardiogram abnormalities predict heart disease in postmenopausal women, according to a new study.
Electrocardiogram (ECG) abnormalities reveal heart disease, but most studies have been about men or comparisons of men and women. Researchers from Northwestern University, Chicago, now reveal a link between ECG abnormalities and heart disease in asymptomatic postmenopausal women. The data comes from the Women's Health Initiative which looked at the impact of hormone replacement therapy upon women's health.

The women had an ECG taken at the start of the study and were classified according to whether there were no, minor or major abnormalities. The corresponding rates of heart disease were 21, 40 and 75 per 10,000 women. Therefore ECG can reveal the presence of heart disease long before any symptoms occur. Since ECG is a low cost, widely available test, the researchers suggest that it could be used to help predict the future occurrence of heart disease among asymptomatic postmenopausal women. Those with abnormalities could be helped to modify any risk factors, either with lifestyle changes or with medication (or both).

Source
Journal of the American Medical Association 7th March 2007 Volume 297 pages 978-985