Evaluation of P wave dispersion and maximum P wave duration in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation

Abstract

Objective To investigate the electrophysiology mechanism of the P wave dispersion (Pd) and the maximum P wave duration (Pmax) in patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF),and evaluate the effect of the Pd and Pmax in the prediction of PAF. Methods Forty-eight patients with PAF (group PAF) were slected and divided into 2 sub-groups according to the organic heart disease,group PAF1 (20 cases, without organic heart disease) and group PAF2 ( 28 cases, with organic heart disease). Forty-six patients without PAF were selected as control group. The Pd and Pmax were measured from the 12-lead surface electrocardiogram (ECG). Results The Pd and Pmax in group PAF was higher than that in control group [(41.11 ± 4.97 ) ms vs. (27.77 ± 4.72) ms, ( 111.43 ± 8.01 ) ms vs. (95.57 ± 9.01 ) ms] (P ＜ 0.05 ). The Pmaxin group PAF2 was significantly higher than that in group PAF1 (P ＜ 0.05),and there was no significant difference in the Pd between group PAF2 and group PAF1 (P＞ 0.05 ). The specificity, sensitivity and positive predictive value of Pd ≥40 ms combined with Pmax ≥ 110 ms was 95.65%, 81.25% and 95.12%. Conclusion The Pd and Pmax in the patients with PAF are significantly higher than those in the patients without PAF, and Pd≥40 ms combined with Pmax≥ 110 ms can be used to predict the PAF more reliably and accurately. Key words: Atrial fibrillation; P wave dispersion; Maximum P wave duration