The prevalence and relevance of the Brugada-type electrocardiogram in the Danish general population: data from the Copenhagen City Heart Study

Abstract

Aims: The prevalence of the Brugada-type electrocardiogram (ECG) in the Danish population is not known.

Methods and results: Inhabitants from the city of Copenhagen, Denmark, have participated in a prospective study since 1976. Four cross-sectional surveys have been carried out. Follow-up was performed using public registers. At each examination, the participants had an ECG registered. ECGs, showing right bundle branch block (RBBB) were examined for a possible Brugada-type pattern. A total of 42,560 ECGs had been registered from 18,974 participants. 1,284 had been coded as RBBB. Among these ECGs, we found no ECGs showing type 1 Brugada pattern, and 14 showing type 2 or 3 pattern. The prevalence of the total number of ECGs with Brugada pattern was 7/10,000. None of the subjects with a Brugada-pattern ECG died suddenly during follow-up.

Conclusion: The Brugada-type ECG pattern is rare in the general Danish population. None of the subjects with a Brugada-type ECG died suddenly during a follow-up of 6-33 years.