Routine ECGs in Japan Show Promise in Identifying Cardiovascular Risks

Routine electrocardiograms (ECGs) in Japan have shown promising results in flagging risks of cardiovascular events among the general population. A recent study conducted on over 3.5 million healthy working adults in Japan revealed that individuals with ECG abnormalities during routine screenings in 2016 had notably higher rates of combined death and cardiovascular disease (CVD) admissions over a median follow-up period of 5.5 years. Despite these promising findings, experts suggest that this study alone may not be adequate to alter the current recommendations by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) and the European Society of Cardiology regarding routine ECG screenings for individuals at low risk of CVD.