Atrial electromechanical coupling interval and P-wave dispersion in healthy elderly
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Published on: November 28, 2018
Nesligül Yildirim1, Murat Tulmac, Vedat Simsek
1Department of Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kirikkale University, Turkey. nesligul2004@hotmail.com
Background And Aims:
The aim of our study was to investigate the potential effect of natural aging on atrial fibrillation (AF) by means of electrocardiographic P-wave analysis and measurement of the transthoracic echocardiographic electromechanical coupling interval (EMC).
Methods:
The study comprised 25 healthy individuals aged ≥65 years (group 1) and 25 control subjects <65 years (group 2). The difference between maximum (Pmax) and minimum (Pmin) P-wave durations on 12-lead electrocardiography were defined as P-wave dispersion (PD). Intra- and inter-atrial EMC were measured by tissue Doppler imaging.
Results:
Pmax (107.2 ± 3.58 msec vs 100.0 ± 3.56 msec, p<0.001) and PD (43.6 ± 4.98 msec vs 36.5 ± 3.56 msec, p<0.001) were significantly higher in group 1 than in group 2. Left atrial EMC [24.6 (15.20) vs 13.3 (4.50), p<0.001] and inter-atrial EMC [43.2 (16.05) vs 33.3 (4.75), p<0.001] were significantly delayed in group 1 compared with group 2. There was a significant correlation between left atrial diameter, PD, Pmax, left atrial EMC, and inter-atrial EMC.
Conclusion:
Aging is correlated with increased left atrial size and impaired diastolic relaxation, which may contribute to a greater risk of AF in terms of prolonged PD and atrial EMC.
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