Limited Utility of Screening Electrocardiograms in Systemic Sclerosis: Data from the Canadian Scleroderma Research Group.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Recommendations have been made to use electrocardiograms (EKGs) to screen for cardiac disease in systemic sclerosis (SSc). The objective of this study was to compare the prevalence of EKG abnormalities in SSc and controls to help determine if the EKG should be used as a screening tool.

Methods

EKGs from patients with SSc were compared with those from a random sample of age- and gender-matched controls. Two cardiologists read all EKGs using a standardized approach. The groups were compared using t-tests, chi-squared tests, and Fisher exact tests.

Results

Patients with SSc (n = 833, mean ± SD disease duration 11.3 ± 9.3 years; 39.4% had diffuse cutaneous SSc) and controls (n = 832) were included. The prevalence of conduction and rhythm abnormalities were simil

SUBMITTER: Wojcik S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12440803 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature