Abstract
Introduction
Early repolarization syndrome is associated with long-term cardiac mortality in Western countries. However, there is no study of this association in Southeast Asian population.
Purpose
To determine the prevalence of early repolarization and long term risk of cardiac mortality in general Thai population.
Methods
A total of 2,756 consecutive individuals participating in from the electricity generating authority of Thailand (EGAT) study between 1997 and 2015 were included in this study. Early repolarization pattern (ERP) was defined either as “notching” or “slurring” and was localized into inferior leads, lateral leads, or both. Mortality endpoints included cardiovascular (CV) events and all-cause mortalities. Multivariable Cox-proportional hazard model, adjusted for all major CV risk factors, was used to determine the association between ERP and outcomes.
Results
Out of 2756 individuals,2,689 had complete data (80% male, mean age 55). ECGs and risk factor profiles were included for analysis. Mean follow up duration was 11.2±6.7 years. There were 444 (16.5%) cases with early repolarization pattern (slurr 54.3%, notching 38.3% and both 7.4%). Inferior leads were the most common localization at 49.8%, followed by lateral leads (35.6%) and both (14.6%). Five-hundred and sixty-six participants were dead during the follow-ups. Of these, 21 were sudden death. ERP was not associated with a greater likelihood of all causes of deaths, 20.5% in ERP and 21.2% in non-ERP (hazard ratio,1.04; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.81 to 1.34; p=0.75). The death rates from coronary heart disease were 7.2% in ERP and 7.6% in non-ERP (HR,1.06; 95% CI, 0.71 to 1.56; p=0.79). The death rates from cardiovascular disease were 11.7% in ERP and 12.0% respectively (HR,1.03; 95% CI, 0.75 to 1.41; p=0.872) and sudden cardiac death was not difference between both groups 1.2 and 1.4% respectively.
Conclusion
The prevalence of early repolarization in Thai middle-aged population is relatively high. Over a long-term follow-up of 18 years, we did not find any differences in sudden cardiac death or death from any causes between an early repolarizationgroup and non-early repolarization group.