Consensus Opinion and Observer Accuracy in Electrocardiography with Reference to Coronary Arteriographic Information

Abstract
In this study reader performance in resting electrocardiographic (ECG) reading and case summary interpretation was investigated. Eight cardiologists were asked to read independently 105 paired ECG--Case summary sheets on either two or four occasions. The order of ECG--Case summary inspection for each sheet was randomized over trials. The results show low levels of inter- and intra-reader reliability when physicians report on ECG traces. Reference to coronary arteriographic information confirms that the resting ECG has limited utility in the detection of coronary artery disease.