Difference in ECG diagnosis and need for treatment between community general practitioners and hospital cardiologists

AIM:To compare the difference in ECG diagnoses between community general practitioners (GPs) and hospital cardiologists. METHODS: Reports of 503 ECG diagnoses made, respectively, by community GPs and hospital cardiologists were compared. RESULTS: Community GPs made correct ECG diagnoses in 450 cases (89.5%) and misdiagnoses in 53 cases (10.5%), whereas hospital cardiologists made correct ECG diagnoses in 498 cases (99.0%) and misdiagnoses in five cases (1.0%). A significant difference was found between groups (P<0.01). Community GPs determined treatment need for 475 cases (94.4%) and no-treatment need for 28 cases (0.6%), whereas hospital cardiologists determined treatment need for 322 cases (64.0%) and no-treatment need for 181 cases (36.0%), with a significant difference between groups (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: The rate of correct ECG diagnoses made by community GPs is significantly lower and the rate of treatment need is higher than those made by hospital cardiologists.