Electrocardiographic abnormalities in the sick elderly.

From a study of routine electrocardiography on 300 ill elderly patients in an acute geriatric unit, it is evident that the incidence of atrial fibrillation, ventricular extrasystoles, myocardial ischaemia and myocardial infarction is much higher than in the general population of similar age group. In females, the incidence increases with advance in age. It is suggested that the time is ripe for a large multicentre study which would help to decide the true incidence and significance of the abnormalities.