Abstract
One thousand consecutive electrocardiograms (E.C.Gs) of patients with suspected coronary disease recorded in the course of an E.C.G. Service for family doctors have been analysed against the background of the W.H.O. criteria for the diagnosis of myocardial infarction.
Five hundred and sixty seven tracings were abnormal, but only 63 showed conclusive evidence of myocardial infarction, and only six definite evidence that the infarction was recent.
Four hundred and thirty three E.C.Gs showed no definite abnormality, but for reasons which are given, coronary heart disease could not be excluded in these cases.
The family doctor requires an unequivocal answer to the question: Does this patient suffer from coronary heart disease? This analysis shows that the cardiologist with a single E.C.G. and a brief note before him can seldom give it.
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