The “Nona” Electrocardiogram: Findings in 100 Patients of the 90+ Age Group

Abstract

The electrocardiograms of 100 men and women, all past the age of 90, were analyzed for conduction times, axis deviation, summed frontal QRS and T amplitudes. The ECG patterns were classified, and limited clinical correlations were made. The heart rate, R‐T and QRS intervals remained virtually unchanged with age. An increase in PR intervals, a left axis shift and a reduction in summed frontal T values were noted. The high incidences of atrial fibrillation, left anterior hemiblock, extra systoles and delayed AV conduction were probably a result of the widespread use of digitalis. The two most common ECG abnormalities were left ventricular hypertrophy (evidently a natural consequence of advanced age) and myocardial infarction (often undiagnosed clinically).

Twenty-Four-Hour Electrocardiographic Study in the Active Very Elderly

“…Our study population showed a higher incidence of first-degree A-V block (27.7%) than previously detected by ambulatory ECG [1,2] and standard ECG in elderly pop ulation samples [18][19][20][21]. In this respect, we found that standard ECG is a faithful indica tor of first-degree A-V block.…”

Aging-Associated Cardiovascular Changes and Their Relationship to Heart Failure

“…The P-R interval, representing atrioventricular conduction, increases from 159 ms at ages 20–35 to 172 ms beyond age 60 26 . The QRS axis shifts leftward, possibly due to increases in LV wall thickness, with 20% of healthy subjects having a left axis deviation by age 100 27 . Interestingly, despite increased LV thickness, there is a decline in the R- and S-wave amplitudes with aging evident by age 40 28 .…”

The Impact of Aging on Cardio and Cerebrovascular Diseases

“…Another important factor is the wall thickening of the LV in the elderly, which brings to a leftward axis shift of the QRS axis [ 19 ] and unlike expectations to a decline of the R-wave and S-wave amplitudes, which can be seen already by age 40 [ 20 ].…”