Abstract
One hundred inmates of an institution for the aged showing normal ecgs. were followed for a period of 7 yrs. By the end of the 2d yr., 22 cases were found to have abnormal ecg. tracings. By the end of the 4th yr., 36 cases, and by the end of 7 yrs., 47 inmates had abnormal changes in the ecg. In evaluating the significance of the abnormal tracing, the related factors considered were age, the level of blood pressure and the presence of heart enlargement. While the occurrence of the abnormal ecg. in senescence has a prognostic significance, it is the presence of heart enlargement that is a more determining factor of the life span of the aged individual.

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