Sahel Medical Journal

ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Year
: 2010  |  Volume : 13  |  Issue : 3  |  Page : 147--152

Electrocardiographic indices in a rural pregnant nigerian women population


AI Salisu1, KM Karaye2 
1 Department of Human Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Bayero University, Kano, Nigeria
2 Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Bayero University, Kano, Nigeria

Correspondence Address:
K M Karaye
P O Box 4445 Kano
Nigeria

Background: The aim of the present study was to assess the resting electrocardiograms (ECG) in apparently healthy pregnant women in a Northern Nigerian rural settlement, and to compare with a control group comprising of non - pregnant women in their reproductive ages. Methods: Electrocardiogram (ECG) recordings at rest of 238 women in their reproductive ages, comprising of 123 pregnant subjects and 115 non- pregnant controls were obtained. The study was cross-sectional in design and carried out at Kura Comprehensive Health Center, Kura Local Government in Kano State, Nigeria. Results: Significant differences in some of the electrocardiogram (ECG) variables and baseline characteristics were observed when the pregnant subjects were compared with the controls: lower systolic blood pressure (115.20± 8.13 Vs 120.43±9.02 mmHg), diastolic blood pressure (73.65±9.24 vs 80.44±4.85mmHg), QRS duration (71.87±13.99 vs 78.61 ±13.71ms), and P-wave, mean QRS T-wave axes (p<0.05). In addition, QRS duration was significantly reduced as pregnancy advanced from 2 nd to 3 rd trimester (75.8ms vs 69.7ms; p=0.015). Conclusions: Several differences were identified when the resting electrocardiogram of pregnant women were compared with non-pregnant controls. These findings should be taken into consideration in the interpretation of electrocardiogram of pregnant women in Nigeria.


How to cite this article:
Salisu A I, Karaye K M. Electrocardiographic indices in a rural pregnant nigerian women population.Sahel Med J 2010;13:147-152


How to cite this URL:
Salisu A I, Karaye K M. Electrocardiographic indices in a rural pregnant nigerian women population. Sahel Med J [serial online] 2010 [cited 2024 Mar 28 ];13:147-152
Available from: https://www.smjonline.org/article.asp?issn=1118-8561;year=2010;volume=13;issue=3;spage=147;epage=152;aulast=Salisu;type=0