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INTRODUCTION

1.1 General Overview of Electrocardiogram

The public health problems caused by cardiovascular disease are enormous. Cardiovascular
disease is the leading cause of death and disability in the United States and a primary cause of acute
hospital bed days and physician visits. The assessment of cardiovascular disease-related risk factors has
been a central component of the NHANES. Data describing rates of morbidity and disability related to
cardiovascular disease have provided important information to researchers, health providers and
policymakers from the public and private sectors of the health field.

Data for the cardiovascular disease component for NHANES III will be collected by various
methods. Questions will be asked about medical and familial history of cardiovascular disease, laboratory
measurements and examination procedures including blood pressure measurements and an
electrocardiogram. The electrocardiogram for NHANES III is a standard 12-lead electrocardiogram. All
adult sampled persons (SP’s) ages 40 and older are administered a resting electrocardiogram (ECG) as a
routine component of their physical examination in the MEC.

The collection of electrocardiogram data in the NHANES III will provide a description of the
age and sex-specific rates of ECG abnormalities in this nationally representative sample. Descriptions of
national trends in age and sex-specific ECG abnormalities will also be provided. Collection of
electrocardiogram data facilitates the conduct of longitudinal analyses to examine the relationship of
specific ECG abnormalities to subsequent events of cardiovascular disease. In addition, data from
NHANES III provide a unique opportunity to understand ECG abnormalities in high risk groups which
could enhance future cardiovascular disease detection and prevention efforts.

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