Table 2 Distribution of abnormalities in the ECG of 80 centenarians, classified by the Minnesota code

Sinus rhythm

59

73.8%

19

73.1%

40

74.1%

.924

Arrhythmias

44

55%

15

57.7%

29

53.7%

.737

 Premature supraventricular, junctional or ventricular beats

29

36.3%

8

30.8%

21

38.9%

.479

 Atrial fibrillation

21

26.3%

7

26.9%

14

25.9%

.924

 Other arrhythmias

5

6.3%

2

7.7%

3

5.6%

.658

QRS axis deviation

27

33.8%

9

34.6%

18

33.3%

.910

 Left-axis deviation

24

30%

7

26.9%

17

31.5%

.677

 Right-axis deviation

1

1.3%

0

0%

1

1.9%

.999

 Extreme axis deviation

2

2.5%

2

7.7%

0

0%

.103

High amplitude R waves

7

8.8%

1

3.8%

6

11.1%

.418

 Left ventricular hypertrophy

7

8.8%

1

3.8%

6

11.1%

.418

AV conduction defect

9

11.3%

3

11.5%

6

11.1%

.999

 Second-degree AV block

1

1.3%

0

0%

1

1.9%

.999

 First-degree AV block

8

10%

3

11.5%

5

9.3%

.710

Ventricular conduction defect

26

32.5%

11

42.3%

15

27.8%

.194

 Left bundle branch block

8

10%

1

3.8%

7

13%

.264

 Right bundle branch block

12

15%

6

23.1%

6

11.1%

.160

 Right bundle branch block incomplete

2

2.5%

0

0%

2

3.7%

.999

 Left bundle branch block incomplete

7

8.8%

4

15.4%

3

5.6%

.206

 Nonspecific intraventricular conduction delay

2

2.5%

2

7.7%

0

0%

.103

Repolarisation abnormalities

25

31.3%

8

30.8%

17

31.5%

.949

 ST depression

17

21.3%

3

11.5%

14

25.9%

.242

 T amplitude zero, negative or diphasic

18

22.5%

7

26.9%

11

20.4%

.511

 Other repolarisation abnormalities

5

6.3%

2

7.7%

3

5.6%

.658

Q and QS patterns

13

16.3%

5

19.2%

8

14.8%

.616

Miscellaneous items

27

33.8%

6

23.1%

21

38.9%

.161

 Low QRS amplitude

9

11.3%

3

11.5%

6

11.1%

.999

 Atrial enlargement

7

8.8%

1

3.8%

6

11.1%

.418

 QRS transition zone to the right/left

15

18.8%

3

11.5%

12

22.2%

.363