OBJECTIVES: 1. To report cases of "normal", asymptomatic, young, pre-employment males without significant cardiovascular risk factors but with electrocar diographic (ECG) T-wave inversion in multiple leads; and 2. To emphasize the importance of overall clinical correlation in interpretation of the ECG and in overall diagnostic and management decisions.
SETTING: Outpatient urban pre-employment clinic
CASE SUMMARY: Seven young (44 years of age), pre-employment, asymptomatic, male cases with resting ECG findings of T-wave inversion in multiple leads but with normal physical, radiographic, and cardiosonographic cardiac anatomy are herein reported. All cases did not have significant cardiovascular risk factors and were able to uneventfully hurdle at least 9 METs of monitored treadmill exercise. All cases were eventually cleared for employment and presumably enjoying a productive life; nobody among them was repatriated.
CONCLUSION: Clinical presentation is the more important arbiter of cardiovascular/physical fitness than any isolated ECG finding.

Human ; Male ; Adult ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Risk Factors ; Physical Fitness ; Exercise Test ; Exercise ; Heart ; Electrocardiography ; Employment

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present study was to assess the frequency of use, and preferences regarding information and communication technologies (ICTs) among Ecuadorian patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) undergoing hemodialysis. METHODS: We conducted an anonymous cross-sectional survey-based study from January 2016 to April 2017, involving 393 patients with end-stage renal disease from 9 hemodialysis centers, in which they rated their use and preferences of various ICTs through a modified version of the Michigan Questionnaire. The questionnaire collected information regarding demographics, patients' interest in obtaining health-related information through ICTs, and interest in using ICTs as a potential way to communicate with their healthcare providers. A chi-square test for association and adjusted regression analyses were performed. RESULTS: Among all patients who participated, 64.3% reported owning a cellphone, with less than a third reporting active Internet connection. The most used ICT for obtaining information about CKD and/or hemodialysis was web-based Internet, followed by YouTube. SMS was rated the highest to receive and seek health-related information, followed by Facebook. Younger age and higher levels of education were associated with a higher overall usage of ICTs. Finally, more than half of the patients reported interest in using WhatsApp for communicating with their healthcare providers. CONCLUSIONS: Understanding the preferences of ICTs among patients with CKD undergoing hemodialysis could help to improve their outcomes through the potential uses and benefits of ICTs. Further research is needed to assess their role in improving the care of patients with chronic diseases.
Anonyms and Pseudonyms ; Chronic Disease ; Cross-Sectional Studies* ; Demography ; Education ; Health Personnel ; Humans ; Internet ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; Medical Informatics ; Michigan ; Renal Dialysis* ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic* ; Social Media