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ECGs May Misdiagnose Common Heart Condition
Posted in Medical News by Mat Packer on November 18, 2009
Orlando, FL (AHN) – A common test prescribed to detect heart problems can often lead doctors to misdiagnose a common heart condition, according to a recent study.
Researchers at the Henry Ford Hospital studied 500 patients and found a false positive reading for the condition, known as left ventricular hypertrophy, between 77 and 82 percent in patients screened by electrocardiogram. The researchers said they found a false negative reading between 6 and 7 percent in the same sample.
Doctors typically give several ECGs before diagnosing left ventricular hypertrophy.
The researchers said is a statement that CT scans were a more accurate way of diagnosing the condition. An ECG measures the electrical activity of a heartbeat and a CT scan uses X-rays to take clear and detailed images of the heart.
The study was presented at the American Heart Association’s annual scientific conference in Orlando, Florida.
[From Study: EKGs May Misdiagnose Common Heart Condition]
