Study: EKGs May Misdiagnose Common Heart Condition

November 17, 2009 6:34 a.m. EST

Orlando, FL (AHN) - A common test prescribed to detect heart problems can often lead doctors to misdiagnose a common heart condition, according to a recent study.

Researchers at the Henry Ford Hospital studied 500 patients and found a false positive reading for the condition, known as left ventricular hypertrophy, between 77 and 82 percent in patients screened by electrocardiogram. The researchers said they found a false negative reading between 6 and 7 percent in the same sample.

Doctors typically give several EKSs before diagnosing left ventricular hypertrophy.

The researchers said is a statement that CT scans were a more accurate way of diagnosing the condition. An EKG measures the electrical activity of a heartbeat and a CT scan uses X-rays to take clear and detailed images of the heart.

The study was presented at the American Heart Association's annual scientific conference in Orlando, Fla.