The effect of head-upright tilt table testing for vasovagal syncope on P-wave duration

Fluid shifts in vasovagal syncope may be reflected in electrocardiographic P-wave duration. We examined the effect of head-upright tilt-table testing (HUT) on P-wave duration among patients with positive or negative HUT. P-wave duration was measured at baseline and several post-HUT time points. In patients with a positive HUT, the test was immediately discontinued. P-wave duration measurements obtained at the completion of the test or when symptoms occurred were compared to baseline measurements. The P-wave duration among patients with a positive HUT was significantly reduced at the onset of symptoms as compared to baseline (-14.0 ms, P = .0054) and 2-minute tilt measurements (-11.3 ms, P = .0246). P-wave duration measurements were not reduced in patients experiencing a negative HUT at any follow-up time. We showed a significant reduction in P-wave duration among patients experiencing positive HUT that suggests a dynamic relationship between atrial volume and P-wave duration.