Electrocardiographic features of patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

Introduction. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a disorder of the myocardium characterized by asymmetric or symmetric left ventricular hypertrophy. It is often an inherited disorder with an autosomal dominant pattern. The aim of this study was to evaluate the electrocardiographic characteristics of patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, as well as to assess the accuracy of current electrocardiographic criteria for left ventricular hypertrophy used as indicators of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Material and Methods. This retrospective study was conducted using hospital medical records of 42 patients with the diagnosis of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Detailed electrocardiography analysis, apart from all the usual parameters, included the calculation of indices used to diagnose left ventricular hypertrophy including Sokolow augmented vector left, Cornell voltage, Cornell product, and Sokolow-Lyon index. Results. Sinus rhythm was present in 95.2% of patients, while atrial fibrillation was found in 4.8%. The majority of patients presented with left axis deviation. A slight positive correlation was found between the Sokolow augmented vector left index and posterolateral wall thickness (r = 0.475; p < 0.05), and also between the Cornell voltage index and posterolateral wall thickness (r = 0.368; p < 0.05). A borderline positive correlation was found between the Cornell product index and posterolateral wall thickness (r = 0.290; p = 0.063). Interventricular septum thickness showed no significant correlation with any of the electrocardiographic indices of left ventricular hypertrophy. Conclusion. In patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, the Sokolow augmented vector left and Cornell voltage indices were the best indicators of posterolateral wall hypertrophy, whereas none of the examined indices correlated well with the interventricular septum thickness.