SummaryBackground: Abnormalities in the electrocardiogram (ECG) are associated with increased risk of cardiovascular events. Knowledge about the prevalence of ECG abnormalities in the general population and their association with cardiovascular risk factors may help to target preventive measures and to reduce risk. Although several studies have been conducted in the United States and Latin America to assess the prevalence of electrocardiographic abnormalities in the general population, there are few such studies in Europe. Normal ECG limits have been established even less and are lacking altogether for German populations. Objective: (1) To establish the prevalence of major and minor ECG abnormalities in the German National Cohort (GNC), (2) to assess the association of such ECG findings with cardiovascular risk factors, and (3) to establish normal limits of ECG parameters in healthy participants of the GNC. Methods: Data from more than 50,000 participants in the GNC will be analyzed. ECGs will be automatically processed by the Modular ECG Analysis Program (MEANS) and classified according to the Minnesota Code. A variety of ECG measurements will automatically be determined, including heart rate, ECG wave amplitudes and durations, etc. Cardiovascular risk factors that will be considered, are history of heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, obesity, and smoking. The prevalence of major and minor ECG abnormalities will be estimated, as well as the association between risk factors and major ECG abnormalities. Normal limits for the ECG measurements will be determined based on data from apparently healthy GNC participants. All results will be stratified by age and sex.

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InstitutionsErasmus University Medical Center, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, DKFZ Heidelberg, Universitätsmedizin Greifswald, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Universitäres Herz- und Gefäßzentrum, Universitätsmedizin Greifswald, Institut für Community Medicine, Abtlg. SHIP-KEF