A system for determining cardiovascular characteristics is to be disposed on the body of a subject. The body has a detection area. The system includes a detector member and a processor. The detector member includes at least sixteen precordial electrodes which are to be placed on the chest of the subject within the detection area and which produce at least sixteen electrocardiogram (ECG) signals. The processor calculates at least twenty-four characteristic values based on the ECG signals. The characteristic values serve as basis for determining a location of chronic or acute myocardial ischemia in the body and a region of chronic or acute myocardial ischemia in the heart of the subject.