Comparison of electrocardiographic criteria for diagnosis of left ventricular hypertrophy in hypertension: the MAVI study.

Sensitivity of traditional ECG criteria for LV hypertrophy in subjects with hypertension is poor. However, the combination of three highly specific criteria (Romhilt-Estes, LV strain and Cornell) in a cumulative score produces a rise in sensitivity without excessive deterioration of specificity, with a prevalence of LV hypertrophy at ECG of 18.4%. Traditional interpretation of ECG is valuable and should be reconsidered in the clinical work-up of subjects with hypertension.