Background: The Cornell product (CP) improved identification of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) in the LIFE study, although its clinical significance is still unknown in Japanese hypertensive (HT) patients.
Methods and results: A standard 12-lead ECG was recorded in 265 HT and 363 normotensive cases (N). All ECGs were digitized, and a simple product was calculated by multiplying the Cornell voltage (CV) by the QRS duration. In 147 of the 265 HT cases, the standard 12-lead ECG and transthoracic Doppler echocardiography were examined in the same period. The mean value of CP increased in the following order: 1,426+/-673 mm x ms in N, 1,989+/-900 mm x ms in HT with treatment, 2,137+/-976 mm x ms in HT without treatment. The correlation with left ventricular mass index (LVMI) measured by echocardiography was improved by CP with the simple CV. With use of a partition of 2,440 mm x ms in CP, LVMI and relative wall thickness were significantly higher in HT with > or =2,440 mm x ms of CP compared with <2,440 mm x ms. Early diastolic wave in tissue Doppler imaging was significantly lower in HT with > or =2,440 mm x ms of CP compared with <2,440 mm x ms.
Conclusion: The Cornell product is a useful ECG marker, reflecting not only left ventricular (LV) mass but also LV geometry and diastolic function in Japanese HT patients.