ECG low QRS voltage and wide QRS complex predictive of centenarian 360-day mortality.

Abstract

We examined the electrocardiographic (ECG) findings of centenarians and associated them with >360-day survival. Physical and functional assessment, resting electrocardiogram and laboratory tests were performed on 86 study participants 101.9 ± 1.2 years old (mean ± SD) (70 women, 16 men) and followed for at least 360 days. Centenarian ECGs were assessed for left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) according to the Romhilt–Estes score, Sokolow–Lyon criteria and Cornell voltage criteria which were positive for 12.8, 6.98, and 10.5 % of participants, respectively. Fifty-two study participants (60 %) survived ≥360 days. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed a negative relationship between 360-day survival and the following: R II <0.45 mV adjusted for CRP (odds ratio (OR) = 0.108, 95 % confidence interval (CI) = 0.034–0.341, P < .001), R aVF < 0.35 mV adjusted for CRP (OR = 0.151, 95 % CI = 0.039–0.584, P < .006), Sokolow–Lyon voltage <1.45 mV adjusted for CRP (OR = 0.178, 95 % CI = 0.064–0.492, P = .001), QRS ≥90 ms adjusted for CRP (OR = 0.375, 95 % CI = 0.144–0.975, P = .044), and Romhilt–Estes score ≥5 points adjusted for sex and Barthel Index (OR = 0.459, 95 % CI = 0.212–0.993, P = .048) in single variable ECG models. QRS voltage correlated positively with systolic and pulse pressure, serum vitamin B12 level, sodium, calcium, phosphorous, TIMP-1, and eGFR. QRS voltage correlated negatively with BMI, WHR, serum leptin, IL-6, TNF-α, and PAI-1 levels. QRS complex duration correlated positively with CRP; QTc correlated positively with TNF-α. Results suggest that Romhilt–Estes LVH criteria scores ≥5 points, low ECG QRS voltages (Sokolow–Lyon voltage <1.45 mV), and QRS complexes ≥90 ms are predictive of centenarian 360-day mortality.