DIAGNOSTIC ACCURACY OF ELECTROCARDIOGRAPHY (ECG) FOR THE DIAGNOSIS OF LEFT VENTRICULAR HYPERTROPHY, TAKING ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY AS GOLD STANDARD

OBJECTIVE: To determine the diagnostic accuracy of Electrocardiography (ECG) of Left Ventricular Hypertrophy, taking echocardiography as a gold standard. SUBJECTS & METHODS: It was a Cross-Sectional Study. The study was conducted in the Medicine Department, Services Hospital, Lahore from February 19, 2018, to August 19, 2018. A total of 300 cases were enrolled. Standardized a 12-lead ECG was used in subjects by Cardiofax electrocardiograph paper speed at 25mm/sec. Two dimensionally (2D) guided M Mode echocardiographic measurements were taken and the presence/absence of LVH was recorded. The collected data was entered and analyzed in computer software SPSS software v25.0. A 2x2 table was drawn to calculate the Sn, Sp, PPV, NPV and diagnostic accuracy of ECG for LVH taking Echocardiographic findings as a gold standard. RESULTS: Out of 300 cases, 172(57.33%) were male and 128(42.67%) as females. The mean age was 38.72±5.64 years. Accuracy of electrocardiography (ECG) for LVH diagnosis taking echocardiography as the gold standard was calculated as 85.21%, 84.18%, 82.88%, 86.36% and 84.67% as Sn, Sp, PPV, NPV, and diagnostic accuracy respectively. CONCLUSION: Diagnostic accuracy of Electrocardiography (ECG) for LVH diagnosis is higher and this diagnostic modality can be used in areas where echocardiography is not available. KEYWORDS: Electrocardiography (ECG), Diagnostic Accuracy, Echocardiography, Left Ventricular Hypertrophy.