A single ectopic beat on a 12 lead ECG is an important predictor

From a large database:

Clinical Perspective

What Is New?

Among participants in 2 large, community‐based cohort studies, the presence of a premature atrial contraction detected from a single, standard 12‐lead ECG predicted a statistically significant elevated risk of both incident atrial fibrillation and death.

Similarly, a premature ventricular contraction from a single, standard ECG predicted statistically significant increased risks of incident heart failure, decline in left ventricular ejection fraction, and death.

What Are the Clinical Implications?

In combination with other risk markers, ectopy on a single, standard 12‐lead ECG may provide valuable information regarding an individual's cardiovascular risk and serve as a broadly available tool for the prediction and prevention of atrial fibrillation, heart failure, and death.