Abstract

The electrocardiogram in 100 subjects was correlated with the severity of obesity. QRS vector shifted to the left with increasing obesity in 42%of people which indicates left ventricular hypertrophy. These changes were independent of age,sex and bloodpressuire. Interventricular conduction defect was present in 21% of patients, but t wave inversion was in 14% only. 17% of people had normal ECG, whereas 3% of have showed sinus bradycardia & arrhythmia. The shift of QRS vector to the left and the conduction abnormalities are increasing with increase in obesity. Since theleft ventricular hypertrophyis an important risk factor for sudden cardiac arrest, this non-invasive procedure may be utilized as a routine screening test for obese people for better medical care. Thus, obesity is associated with a wide variety of ECG abnormalities, many of which are corrected by weight loss.

Keywords: Electrocardiogram, Obesity, Left ventricular hypertrophy, QRS vector.

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