Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 20, 2026

Simultaneous Photothrombosis and Fiber Photometry to Induce and Monitor Ischemic Stroke in Behaving Mice
07:49

Simultaneous Photothrombosis and Fiber Photometry to Induce and Monitor Ischemic Stroke in Behaving Mice

Published on: November 14, 2025

717

Prolonged P wave duration predicts stroke mortality among type 2 diabetic patients with prevalent non-major

Teemu Vepsäläinen1, Markku Laakso, Seppo Lehto

  • 1Department of Medicine, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Kiinamyllynkatu 10, 20520 Turku, Finland. tkveps@utu.fi.

BMC Cardiovascular Disorders
|November 27, 2014
PubMed

Insights

Prolonged P wave duration increases stroke mortality risk in type 2 diabetes patients with prevalent non-major macrovascular disease. This easily measurable factor may aid in stroke risk assessment for this population.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Diabetology
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Prolonged P wave duration indicates delayed inter-atrial conduction, a potential predictor of cardiovascular disease (CVD).
  • Type 2 diabetes is a known risk factor for atherosclerotic diseases, including stroke.
  • The study investigates the prognostic value of P wave duration in Finnish type 2 diabetes patients with and without prevalent non-major macrovascular disease (PNMMVD).

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the prognostic significance of prolonged P wave duration on total and stroke mortality.
  • To assess the combined impact of P wave duration and PNMMVD on mortality risk in type 2 diabetes patients.
  • To determine if P wave duration is an independent predictor of stroke mortality in this cohort.

Main Methods:

  • An 18-year follow-up study of 739 middle-aged Finnish type 2 diabetes patients without prior major CVD events.
  • Patients were stratified by P wave duration (<114 ms vs. ≥114 ms) and presence of PNMMVD (coronary heart disease or claudication).
  • Cox proportional hazards models were employed to analyze the association between P wave duration, PNMMVD, and mortality risk.

Main Results:

  • A total of 509 deaths occurred, with 59 attributed to stroke during the follow-up period.
  • Prolonged P wave duration was associated with a 2.45-fold increased risk of stroke mortality specifically among patients with PNMMVD.
  • No significant relationship between P wave duration and stroke mortality was observed in patients without PNMMVD.

Conclusions:

  • P wave duration is a significant predictor of stroke mortality in type 2 diabetes patients with prevalent non-major macrovascular disease.
  • This easily measurable electrocardiographic parameter warrants further investigation for its role in stroke risk stratification.
  • Larger studies are needed to confirm the importance of P wave duration in estimating stroke risk within this specific patient group.
Abstract

More Related Videos

Author Spotlight: Understanding Retinal Vessel Resilience and Disease Progression04:36

Author Spotlight: Understanding Retinal Vessel Resilience and Disease Progression

Published on: January 12, 2024

1.8K
A Magnetic Resonance Imaging Protocol for Stroke Onset Time Estimation in Permanent Cerebral Ischemia09:59

A Magnetic Resonance Imaging Protocol for Stroke Onset Time Estimation in Permanent Cerebral Ischemia

Published on: September 16, 2017

14.7K

Related Concept Videos

Diabetic Retinopathy01:27

Diabetic Retinopathy

DefinitionDiabetic retinopathy is a microvascular complication of diabetes affecting the retinal blood vessels.Risk FactorsDiabetic retinopathy is present in almost all individuals with type 1 diabetes and more than 60% of those with type 2 diabetes after two decades of disease.The risk increases with poor glycemic control, hypertension, dyslipidemia, smoking, pregnancy, and puberty.Although cataracts and glaucoma are also more frequent in people with diabetes, retinopathy remains the leading...
11
Type II Diabetes II: Pathophysiology01:24

Type II Diabetes II: Pathophysiology

PathophysiologyType 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM ) is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by insulin resistance and progressive pancreatic β-cell dysfunction, leading to impaired glucose homeostasis. It results from interactions among genetic predisposition, environmental factors, and metabolic stressors, such as overnutrition and a sedentary lifestyle.Insulin Resistance and Glucose DysregulationEarly T2DM involves insulin resistance in skeletal muscle, adipose tissue, and the liver.
2
Type II Diabetes Mellitus III: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnosis01:25

Type II Diabetes Mellitus III: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnosis

Type 2 diabetes mellitus develops gradually and is often asymptomatic in early stages.Clinical ManifestationsWhen symptoms appear, they include fatigue, blurred vision, pruritus, delayed wound healing, and recurrent infections, particularly candidal infections. Peripheral neuropathy may present as numbness or tingling in the extremities. Classic hyperglycemia symptoms—polyuria, polydipsia, and polyphagia—are less common. Most patients are overweight and frequently have associated...
4
Diabetic Nephropathy01:28

Diabetic Nephropathy

Definition Diabetic nephropathy is a chronic kidney complication that results from prolonged hyperglycemia.Prevalence It is the most common cause of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) worldwide, affecting up to half of individuals with diabetes.Pathophysiology • Sustained hyperglycemia triggers multiple hemodynamic and metabolic changes in the kidney. • Early in the disease, increased renal blood flow and glomerular hyperfiltration...
2
Ischemic Stroke ll: Pathophysiology01:15

Ischemic Stroke ll: Pathophysiology

An ischemic stroke occurs when a cerebral blood vessel becomes obstructed, most often by a thrombus or embolus, interrupting the delivery of oxygen and glucose to brain tissue. Because neurons rely on continuous aerobic metabolism, energy failure begins within minutes of reduced perfusion. The region receiving the least blood flow becomes the infarct core, an area of irreversible cellular death. Surrounding this core lies the penumbra, a zone of hypoperfused but still viable tissue that is...
5
Type I Diabetes II: Pathophysiology01:26

Type I Diabetes II: Pathophysiology

Type 1 diabetes mellitus arises from an immune-mediated destruction of pancreatic β-cells, resulting in an absolute deficiency of insulin. This process develops in genetically susceptible individuals when autoimmunity, environmental exposures, and immunologic dysregulation converge to trigger a targeted attack on the insulin-producing cells of the pancreas. The β-cells are located within the islets of Langerhans and are essential for regulating blood glucose by facilitating cellular...
6