Normal limits of the electrocardiogram in Nigerians

<p>Background There has been no large study of ECG measures derived by automated methods in an apparently healthy indigenous West African population.</p> <p>Methods ECGs were recorded from apparently healthy Nigerians and analysed using automated methods. Age and sex based normal ranges were then established.</p> <p>Results A total of 782 males and 479 females aged between 20 and 87 years were studied. Mean QRS duration in males was 87.9 ± 9.4 ms and 83.4 ± 7.6 ms in females (P < .0001). Mean QTc (Hodges) was 393 ± 16 ms in males and 406 ± 16 ms in females (P < .0001). The Cornell index (SV3 + RaVL) was higher in males and decreased with increasing age in males though the reverse was true in females (P < .0001). STj amplitude was lower in older compared to younger males and higher in males.</p> <p>Conclusion This is the first large study of automated ECG measurements from healthy blacks living in West Africa which allows the determination of ECG normal limits in such a population.</p&gt