Context: In clinical practice, left ventricular hypertrophy is best detected by echocardiography because its sensitivity exceeds that of the electrocardiography at the usual level of specificity. However, the greater availability, lower cost and relative simplicity of operation, the ECG continue to support its much wider use as a diagnostic instrument for this purpose. Aims: To study the correlation between ECG and Echocardiography findings in left ventricular hypertrophy secondary to systemic hypertension. Settings and Design: A hospital based cross sectional diagnostic evaluation study. Department of Physiology, Lt. BRKM Government Medical College. Methods and Material: The present study was conducted for a period of two years among 60 randomly selected patients from medical inpatient wards of this tertiary centre. Echocardiography was taken as gold standard to evaluation the performance of ECG. Statistical Analysis: Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value were calculated for ECG to study its effectiveness. Results: Cornell voltage criteria (RavL + SV3) has given significantly better sensitivity of 44% (p=0.042) compared to SokolowLyon voltage criteria (SLV=SV1+RV6) which gave 26% sensitivity. Although SokolowLyon voltage criteria have shown specificity of 100% compared to 90% of Cornell voltage criteria, difference was statistically not significant (p > 0.05). Cornell voltage criteria had a better correlation with LVM and LVMI compared to SokolowLyon voltage criteria. Conclusion: Cornell voltage criteria are better than SokolowLyon voltage criteria. It can be easily applicable in clinical practice in cases where echocardiography is not available.

Keywords: Clinical Practice; Echocardiography; ECG; Sensitivity.