The prevalence of electrocardiographic (ECG) abnormalities in systolic heart failure patients have predominantly been described in white patients, with relatively little known about their prevalence in black and Hispanic populations. The purpose of this study is to compare the prevalence of ECG abnormalities by race, ethnicity, and sex. The authors conducted an observational prospective study that included 926 patients from 2 hospital facilities. A systolic heart failure disease management program implemented in both sites enrolled patients with an ejection fraction < or =40% by echocardiography. Black patients had less evidence of myocardial infarction than whites and Hispanics. Black patients had more evidence of left ventricular hypertrophy than Hispanics and whites. Hispanics evidenced more ischemic changes than blacks and whites. Among black patients, left ventricular hypertrophy was more prevalent in women. ECG abnormalities vary across race, ethnicity, and sex. These variations may have implications for further diagnostic testing and potential treatment regimens.
2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.