Table 2. Prevalence of ECG abnormalities potentially relevant to prognosis in individuals without known CAD in different age groups.

	Age 45-54		Age 55-64		Age 65-75		P value
	Men	Women	Men	Women	Men	Women	for age trend
	(n = 693)	(n = 727)	(n = 836)	(n = 901)	(n = 559)	(n = 661)	Men/Women
Normal ECG	65.1%	69.1%	53.2%	61.3%	36.7%	47.4%	<0.0001 / <0.0001
Normal SR	67.8%	74.6%	65.2%	75.0%	53.5%	70.4%	<0.001 / 0.09
Atrial fibrillation/flutter	0.4%	0.4%	1.9%	0.2%	4.5%	2.3%	<0.0001 / <0.0001
Left axis deviation	2.7%	2.1%	6.6%	3.3%	11.6%	4.2%	<0.0001 / 0.07
AV block	2.6%	1.9%	4.1%	1.9%	7.7%	4.5%	<0.0001 / 0.002
BBB (complete)	1.3%	1.1%	2.2%	1.7%	6.3%	2.6%	<0.0001 / 0.1
BBB (incomplete)	3.3%	2.2%	4.1%	2.3%	7.3%	2.4%	<0.002 / 0.96
LVH	2.2%	0.8%	4.0%	1.6%	5.4%	2.1%	0.01 / 0.1
Borderline LVH	10.0%	5.6%	9.3%	5.3%	10.9%	8.8%	0.62 / 0.01
T-wave changes	5.6%	5.1%	8.7%	6.7%	9.3%	10.9%	0.03 / <0.0001
Abnormal T axis	1.6%	1.0%	2.2%	1.0%	2.5%	2.1%	0.51 / 0.1
QTc > 440 ms	2.2%	7.7%	4.9%	10.5%	9.7%	9.1%	<0.0001 / 0.14
Signs of ischemia	5.9%	6.7%	10.4%	10.5%	13.0%	15.4%	<0.0001 / 0.003
Signs of infarction	4.6%	4.3%	7.5%	5.0%	13.3%	8.3%	<0.001 / <0.001
Major ECG findings	3.5%	3.3%	6.9%	3.6%	14.0%	9.4%	<0.001 / <0.001

Data are based on the integrated 12SL-Code (GE Medical Systems, Freiburg), which is generated independently of individual investigators. In 110 persons without CAD, a digital ECG analysis was not available. Persons with CAD (n = 327) were excluded.

SR, sinus rhythm; AV, atrioventricular; BBB, bundle branch block; LVH, left ventricular hypertrophy. Major ECG findings: ST-segment depression, T-wave inversion, complete or incomplete AV block, frequent premature ventricular contractions or atrial fibrillation/flutter; further definitions in (19).