Author(s)

Monica Lamberti, Gennaro Ratti, Giuseppina Di Miscio, Emilio Franciolini, Michele Pincone, Cristina Capogrosso, Carlo Tedeschi, Roberto De Rosa

Cardiology and Radiology Unit, “Cliniche Riunite” Hospital, Foggia, Italy.
Cardiology and Radiology Unit, “S. Gennaro” Hospital, Naples, Italy.
Cardiology Unit, “S. Giovanni Bosco” Hospital, Naples, Italy.
Section of Occupational Medicine, Department of Experimental Medicine Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy.

Aims: Left bundle branch block (LBBB) is generally associated with a poorer prognosis in comparison to normal intraventricular conduction, but also in comparison to right bundle branch block which is generally considered to be benign in the absence of an underlying cardiac disorder like congenital heart disease. In this paper we evaluate the presence of possible cardiovascular pathology in a group of nurses with a low level of cardiovascular risk factors and left bundle branch block (LBBB). Methods: During the period 2009-2013, 356 nurses (mean age: 32.6 ± 11 yr) were admitted to the department of Occupational Medicine of Second University of Naples. Of these, 13 had LBBB. The evaluation of these patients has included an electrocardiogram (ECG), echocardiography, 24-h ambulatory Holter monitoring (ECG Holter), and exercise testing. Subsequently, in patients with LBBB, multislice computed coronary angiography (MSCT) has been considered. Results and Conclusion: Only in one patient we found a significant stenosis in the middle tract of left anterior descending artery. Coronary artery disease remains difficult to diagnose in some ECG findings such as acquired LBBB. For this reason, a preventive diagnose with newly developed diagnostic methods such as the multislice computed coronary angiography (MSCT) must try to account by the clinician in order to ruling out coronary artery disease (CAD) in workers with LBBB and low cardiovascular risk.

Left Bundle Branch Block, Coronary Artery Disease, Nurses

Lamberti, M. , Ratti, G. , Di Miscio, G. , Franciolini, E. , Pincone, M. , Capogrosso, C. , Tedeschi, C. and Rosa, R. (2014) Cardiovascular Risk in Young Workers with Left Bundle Branch Block. Open Journal of Preventive Medicine, 4, 270-274. doi: 10.4236/ojpm.2014.45033.