A comparison of P-wave duration and dispersion in patients with short-term and long-term atrial fibrillation


Dogan A., Acar G., Gedikli O., Ozaydin M., Nazli C., Altinbas A., ...More

JOURNAL OF ELECTROCARDIOLOGY, vol.36, no.3, pp.251-255, 2003 (SCI-Expanded) identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 36 Issue: 3
  • Publication Date: 2003
  • Doi Number: 10.1016/s0022-0736(03)00049-9
  • Journal Name: JOURNAL OF ELECTROCARDIOLOGY
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.251-255
  • Keywords: atrial fibrillation, P-wave dispersion, duration, PREDICTION, ELECTROCARDIOGRAPHY, CARDIOVERSION, ENLARGEMENT, AGE
  • Dokuz Eylül University Affiliated: No

Abstract

This study compared P-wave duration and dispersion (PD) in patients with short-term (less than or equal to48 hours) and long-term (>48 hours) atrial fibrillation (AF) after cardioversion. We studied 96 consecutive patients with short-term (group A; n:51, age: 61 +/- 11 years) and long-term AF (group B; n:45, age: 64 10 years). P-wave measurements were calculated from 12-lead electrocardiogram. There was no difference related to clinical characteristics. Left atrial dimension was significantly higher in group B (P = .003). P maximum (124 +/- 12 vs. 113 +/- 11 ms, P = .001) and PD (57 +/- 8 vs. 49 +/- 9 ms, P =.001) were also significantly longer in group B compared with group A, but P minimum did not. In univariate analysis, PD were related to AF duration (P = .002) and left atrial size (P = .02). This relation remained in multivariate analysis (P = .01, P = .02, respectively). P maximum >112 ms and PD >47 ms had accuracy values of 74% and 83% respectively for separating group B. Our results suggest that P wave duration and dispersion is prolonged in patients with long-term AF compared to short-term AF.