Quantitative Electrocardiographic Analysis in Relation to Renal Function in a Geriatric Population

Background: There is a frequent association between renal insufficiency and patients with cardiovascular disease, suggesting a common pathogenic mechanism. The electrocardiogram (ECG) is a quick and cheap tool that can detect early cardiac abnormalities. The aim of this study was to quantitatively analyze ECG alterations in relation to renal function of a population of 65 years or older.

Methods: A population sample of 1,536 patients aged 65 or older (45.4% male; mean age 75.6±6.0 years) from the judicial district of Toledo, Spain, who had undergone a general medical checkup including an ECG were included. In 996 patients (64.8%) renal function (plasma creatinine and estimated glomerular filtration rate) was assessed and the relationship between ECG alterations and renal function was subsequently evaluated.

Results: Only 36% of the ECGs analyzed were considered normal. Significant correlations of heart rate, QRS complex duration, and the frontal plane QRS-T angle with reduced renal function were observed. Other ECG parameters such as voltage, QRS and T wave axes, and QTc interval showed no correlation with renal function.

Conclusion: In patients aged 65 years or older with impaired renal function there was a relationship of renal function with certain ECG parameters, which may constitute early markers of renal and cardiac pathology and suggest a common pathogenic mechanism.

Keywords: ECG; Renal function; Geriatric

List of abbreviations: Cr: Creatinine; ECG: Electrocardiogram; eGFR: Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate; HTN: Hypertension; MDRD: Modification of Diet in Renal Disease; LVH: Left Ventricular Hypertrophy; RAAS: Renin-angiotensin-aldosterone System

The cardiorenal syndrome illustrates the close relationship that exists between heart and kidney [1]. At the earliest phases of this pathological process there is a close interaction between both organs, which produces mutual progressive deterioration with loss of function through different pathological mechanisms, noticeably arterial hypertension (HTN) and renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) [2]. HTN is due to a complex pathophysiological process and can produce both cardiovascular [3] and renal diseases [4]. In the heart, HTN lead to coronary artery disease, left ventricular hypertrophy and dysfunction with grim prognosis [5]. Renal involvement is characterized by a progressive deterioration of glomerular filtration rate with or without albuminuria [4]. Furthermore, a higher degree of cardiac involvement is observed in patients with renal pathology and vice versa, [6-9] which suggests a common pathological mechanism, likely the RAAS [10]. Renal insufficiency is more prevalent in the elderly [11] who also commonly suffer from cardiovascular disease [12], and therefore old people constitute a suitable patient group to study the relationship between cardiac and renal diseases.

The electrocardiogram (ECG) represents a quick, relatively cheap and readily available diagnostic tool, which has recently been found to improve risk stratification in the general population of age ≥65 years [13,14]. The ECG has also been studied in patients with renal insufficiency [15,16] and microalbuminuria [17] and its alterations have been described previously. However, the relationship between ECG modifications and different degrees of renal failure has not been evaluated yet.

The Toledo Healthy Aging Study is a population based epidemiological study aimed at analyzing the different factors that lead to healthy aging. A comprehensive triennial assessment is carried out in a cohort of patients aged 65 years or over from Toledo (Spain), including a digital ECG recording and assessment of renal function [18,19]. This study quantitatively analyzed the digital ECG carried out at the first cross-section of the study (year 2006 to 2009) with the intention of evaluating the ECG alterations that occur with different degrees of renal function.

Data from the first cross-sectional study carried out in the Toledo Healthy Aging Study cohort [18,19] was used for this study. The original cohort consisted of 2,488 subjects of both sexes aged 65 years or over that were evaluated between June 2006 and September 2009. In 975 of these patients a digitalized ECG and simultaneous determination of creatinine were available. The study protocol was approved by the clinical ethics committee at Hospital Virgen de la Salud in Toledo and all individuals signed an informed consent.

To perform the analysis, patients were divided into several groups according to eGFR (1: >90; 2: 60 to <90; 3: 30 to <60; 4: 15 to <30; 5: <15 ml/min/1.73 m²), and Cr (1: <1; 2: 1 to <1.2; 3: 1.2 to <2.5; 4: 2.5 to <5; 5: ≥5 mg/dl)

All patients underwent a standard 12-lead ECG with a MAC 1200 ST electrocardiograph (GE Medical Systems). All recordings were digitally stored in a GE Cardiosoft database (v. 6.5, GE Healthcare) and exported in XML format to the ELECTROPRES platform for computerized measurement and analysis. ELECTROPRESS is an on-line based platform aimed at early detection of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) by electrocardiography, which uses the Hannover ECG System (HES^®) program for ECG measurement and interpretation. This software, approved by the FDA, has shown a high accuracy in ECG interpretation [20,21], and has been evaluated in several clinical studies [22,23].

The study protocol of the ECG included: cardiac rhythm, heart rate, duration of waves and intervals (P, PR, QRS, QT), frontal plane axis (P, QRS, T) and amplitude, area and duration of Q, R and S waves of the 12 leads, as well as the morphologic diagnosis of the waves. The corrected QT interval (QTc) was calculated using the Bazett’s formula. The QRS-T angle was determined as the absolute difference between the QRS complex and the T wave angles in the frontal plane (if the angle was >180º, the difference between 360º and the calculated angle was used so that the values used for the study were between 0 and ±180º) [24].

Renal function analysis was done at the laboratory of Hospital Virgen de la Salud in Toledo by measuring plasma creatinine (Cr, expressed as mg/ml) and calculating the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), using the modification of diet in renal disease (MDRD) formula (values expressed as ml/min/1.73m²) [25].

Continuous variables are expressed as mean±standard deviation and qualitative variables as percentages. Subjects were classified into different categories depending on their age, as previously indicated. Comparisons between different groups were made with the Student t test or analysis of variance, as appropriate. Linear regression was used to analyze association, with correction for pathologies (hypertension, coronary artery disease, heart failure, renal function) and drugs (digoxin, betablockers, antiarrhythmics). A significant level of p <0.05 was considered. The calculations were performed using the statistical package Stata 12.1.

ECG was recorded in 1,536 patients of which 24 were excluded due to poor quality. The baseline characteristics are summarized in Table 1. Creatinine levels and eGFR were available in 965 patients, which constitute the study group.

The number of patients per predefined age group (1 to 4) was: 249 (16.5%), 918 (60.7%), 314 (20.7%), and 31 (2.1%), respectively. Mean Cr was 0.872±0.372 mg/dl and the number of patients per predefined Cr group (1 to 5) was: 696 (73.03%), 146 (15.32%), 107 (11.23%), 3 (0,31%), and 1 (0,10%), respectively, for such reason groups 4 and 5 were combined. Mean eGFR was 28.84±34.78 and number of patients per predefined GFR group (1 to 5) was: 39 (4.04%), 219 (22.69%), 144 (14.92%), 9 (0.93%), and 554 (57.41%), respectively.

A negative correlation between eGFR and age was observed (P<0,001). The mean age of group 1 and 5 were 72.36±4.13 years and 75.19±5.88, respectively. Similarly, a positive correlation was observed between age and Cr (age group 1: 74.51±5.44; group 3: 77.36±6.25; and group 4: 79.33±5.03 years; P<0,001).

Considering the total population with available ECG recordings, these were considered normal in 544 (36%) patients. Atrial fibrillation was present in 67 (4%) and sinus arrhythmia in 118 (8%) patients. In 27% of the subjects LV hypertrophy was diagnosed using one or more of the established ECG criterion (Sokolow-Lyon voltage, Cornell voltage-duration product, and R wave in aVL). In 94 (6%) and 23 (2%) of the ECGs recordings ventricular and atrial premature contractions were observed, respectively. A prolonged PR interval was observed in 84 (6%) and non-specific ST-T segment alterations were observed in 111 (7%) of the ECG recordings. Furthermore, Q waves considered compatible with myocardial necrosis were noted in 81 (5%) and Q waves that may be related to necrosis was observed in 271 (18%) of the recordings. There were no statistically significant differences between the frequency of these ECG findings and renal function. A summary of the main ECG parameters can be observed in Table 2.

Heart rate was 69.35±11.14 bpm (range 38-111 bpm). There was a significant increase in heart rate as the renal function deteriorates (heart rate Cr-group 1: 74.51±5.44 bpm vs. Cr-group 4: 79.33±5.03 bpm; P<0.001). A similar positive correlation between heart rate and eGFR was observed. Furthermore, when studying the relationship between heart rate with age and serum Cr, heart rate was independently correlated with Cr but not with age (heart rate = -2.047458 x serum Cr + 66.83311; p=0.032).

The eGFR showed a correlation with a minority of the QRS complex parameters (R-wave area in lead II, S-wave area in lead I and aVR, and Q-wave area in lead aVL). In addition, serum Cr was found to be correlated with some of the QRS complex parameters (Q-wave amplitude in I, V5, and V6; R-wave amplitude in V3; Q-wave area in I, aVR, and aVL; R-wave area in I and V1; and S-wave area in I, II, aVF and V1).

The mean frontal plane axes were: QRS 6.84±39.36° (range: -91° and 179°), T-wave 38.58±39.08° (range: -98° and 178°), and QRS-T wave angle 44.19±41.55° (range: 0° and 180°). Neither the QRS axis (6.71±38.88° in Cr-group 1 vs. 11.72±6.71° in Cr-group 2; P=0.087) nor the T-wave axis in the frontal plane were correlated with Cr or eGFR. Contrary, the QRS-T angle was significantly correlated with Cr (QRS-T angle=20.34 Cr + 26.43; P<0.001). Furthermore, there were significant differences between the QRS-T angle in the different Cr levels (Cr-group 1: 41.63±40.44°; Cr-group 2: 49.72±42.86°; Cr-group 3: 51.08±46.91°; Cr-group 4 68.00±65.19° in group 4; P= 0.0013), whereas no differences of the QRS-T angle in the different eGFR groups were observed.

The P-wave had a mean duration of 108.22±13 ms (range: 66-180ms) without significant differences between the different levels of Cr or eGFR groups. On the other hand, there was significant lengthening of the PR interval with a deterioration of renal function (Cr-group 1: 165.79±25.90 ms vs. Cr-group 3 and 4: 174.10±30.68; P<0.001), although in the multiple regression analysis, the PR interval was more dependent on age (P=0.048) than on serum Cr levels (P=0.093).

Mean QRS complex duration was 94.80±19.32ms (range: 62-206ms). There were significant variations in QRS duration with Cr groups (Cr-group 1: 92.55±20.69ms; Cr-group 2: 94.04±28.13; Cr-group 3-5: 100.34±23.28; P<0.001) but not with eGFR levels (Figure 1). In the multiple regression analysis, QRS complex duration was significantly correlated with Cr (QRS duration=10.061 x Cr +74.231; P<0.001), but not with age in this patient group (P=0.258).

The mean QTc interval was 425.8±24.39 ms (range 347–542ms) and there were no significant changes of this interval with Cr or eGFR.

This study shows significant effects of deteriorating renal function on the ECG in the elderly, as it shows that renal function, as measured by plasmatic Cr or eGFR, was significantly correlated to some ECG parameters of proven prognostic value. In particular, worsening renal function was related to increased heart rate, QRS duration, and QRS-T angle in the frontal plane. Contrary, there was no significant relationship between renal function deterioration and changes in frontal plane QRS complex or T wave axes, amplitude of most of the ECG waves, P wave duration or QTc interval [26,27].

An independent association between ECG changes (rhythm, intraventricular conduction, and repolarization alterations) and microalbuminuria and chronic renal failure in hypertensive subjects has been described previously [15], emphasizing the existing relationship between cardiac and renal damage in this patient group. Moreover, in elderly patients an increased frequency of ECG alterations in renal failure has been reported and some of these ECG alterations have been linked to increased cardiovascular mortality and morbidity [15,16], indicating their prognostic value. However, to the best of our knowledge there is no published data on the quantitative relationship between ECG alterations and renal function, which may be of relevance for the clinical evaluation of these patients.

Patients with renal insufficiency have an elevated risk of developing heart failure which is associated with some ECG alterations and worsening in prognosis [28]. The ECG alterations associated with worsening renal function as observed in this study, namely increased heart rate [29], QRS duration [30], and QRS-T angle [24,31], have all been correlated with a poor cardiovascular prognosis and the development of heart failure in different patient populations. Therefore, these ECG alterations may represent early markers of heart disease and an increased cardiovascular risk.

The observed association between a change in renal function and ECG alterations suggests a common pathogenetic pathway which could be the RAAS [10] as it is capable of producing damage in both organs. In fact, a relationship between aldosterone levels and deterioration of renal function in hypertensive patients has been described [32], and it has also been demonstrated that the inhibition of RAAS confers clinical benefits in patients with heart disease [33] and in those with chronic renal disease [34]. The association or ECG with renal function suggests that this quick and economic technique could be used as a marker of renal or cardio-renal disease, which could be of clinical importance.

This study has several limitations. This is a cross-sectional study, and therefore no prospective electrocardiographic data was available. Although the study sample is large, external validation is necessary in order to allow accurate extrapolation of the results. Furthermore, analysis of liver, pulmonary and brain status was carried out and this could theoretically have affected the ECGs of some of the study participants.

An important strength of this study is the use of computerized ECG interpretation, which is widely used in epidemiological studies, and has demonstrated high reliability and precision, avoiding the pitfalls of manual reading [35].

This study analyzed the electrocardiographic changes that occur in the elderly in relation to impaired renal function, which suggest that the ECG may represent a quick and easy technique to obtain marker of cardiovascular and renal risk in this growing patient group.

For the elaboration of this study LRP received grants PI031558, PI07/90637, PI07/90306, RD06/0013, PI11/01751, RD12/0043 (Institute of Health Carlos III, Ministry of Economy and Competitivity), 03031-00 (Institute of Health Sciences, Council of Health and Social Affairs of Castilla la Mancha), PI 11/01751 (FIS) and with support from the Cardiovascular Research Network (RIC) of the Institute of Health Carlos III.